Eugene Murphy (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Le linn na seachtaine speisialta seo, is deas an rud é go bhfuil a lán daoine sa Teach ag baint úsáid as a gcúpla focal Gaeilge. Is cinnte go bhfuil an tseachtain seo chugainn ina páirt de Sheachtain na Gaeilge freisin. B'fhéidir gur theideal níos fearr é coicís na Gaeilge an bhliain seo chugainn. However, it is good to see everybody having the cúpla focal.

I want to pay tribute to a man reared in my own county who passed away recently, Mr. Mike Burns. He was, of course, a significant broadcaster and news media man. During my own media days, I had the pleasure of meeting and speaking with Mr. Burns on numerous occasions.He has been described as a colossus by his good friend, Mr. Seán Duignan. He was behind "News at 1.30", which is now "News at One", "This Week" and "World Report", three excellent programmes. He went on to become a media officer with the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly. He has a sister living in Roscommon and another in Galway. I extend our sympathies to the members of his family.

I give my strong support to Senator Black. We are probably the two Senators most associated with the music sector of the entertainment business. We should congratulate RTÉ in proceeding with its Choice Music Prize competition last night and Ms Denise Chaila on her win. We should thank everyone in the music business, be it traditional, country, rock, modern or any other genre of music, for keeping entertainment going despite the absence of live entertainment. I appeal for us to sort out the issues. I will compliment the Leader, as she and her staff are good in following up on issues. Will she write to the Minister? When I spoke to the Taoiseach a few nights ago, he told me that progress had been made. However, the money is not getting to those whose livelihoods used to be the €20,000 or €30,000 they earned from music. We must get it to them urgently. They have just weeks to spare before they are in real financial difficulty. We must push this matter onwards.