Seán Kyne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim fáilte chroíúil roimh Linda Ervine chuig Teach Laighean agus chuig Seanad Éireann. Is deas an rud é í a fheiceáil agus a chloisteáil agus tá scéal iontach inste aici. Tá stair fhada sa tír seo ó phlandáil Uladh go dtí Cogadh na Saoirse, na Trioblóidí agus toradh reifrinn na Breatimeachta. Tá an t-oileán scartha dá chéile. Oileán amháin atá ann le: dhá tír; dhá phríomhchreideamh; príomhteanga labhartha, an Béarla; dara teanga, an Ghaeilge; agus Ultais mar theanga mionlach. Is ábhar casta é.

Tá Linda mar ghuth aontaithe don dá traidisiún ar an oileán. Ní ról éasca é seo agus tá a fhios agam nach raibh turas éasca aici. Tréaslaím léi as an obair atá déanta aici chun ranganna Gaeilge a chur ar fáil in oirthear Bhéal Feirste do Phrotastúnaigh agus d'aontachtaithe. Tháinig logainm phríomhchathrach na Tuaiscirt, Belfast, as an nGaeilge, Béal Feirste, relating to the mouth of the river or the tidal ford across the river mouth. Tháinig logainm an dara chathair sa Tuaisceart, Derry, as an nGaeilge Doire, oak wood or grove. Tá muintir an Tuaiscirt ag úsáid na Gaeilge chuile lá. B'fhéidir nach bhfuil a fhios acu é ach sin an rud atá Linda ag obair air. Tá a fhios aici go bhfuil a lán ceisteanna maidir leis an nGaeilge sa Tuaisceart faoi láthair agus maidir leis an Acht teanga. Sna tithe seo táimid tar éis Acht níos láidre a chur tríd an Oireachtas. Tá a fhios agam go bhfuil deacrachtaí le hAcht teanga a thabhairt isteach ó Thuaidh. Cé go bhfuil sé scríofa sna doiciméid idir an dá Rialtas agus na páirtithe go léir, tá deacrachtaí ann. Tá an obair atá á déanamh ag Linda ag cabhrú leis an bhfeachtas sin chun Acht a chur i bhfeidhm ar mhaitheas na teanga agus ar mhaitheas an traidisiúin sa Tuaisceart agus ar an oileán.

Ms Ervine's journey and story are powerful and it was a powerful contribution. As she said, she has come from having no relationship with the Irish language ten years ago to being inspired to learn and show that journey and relate it to other people. It is a journey that a lot of Catholics in the Twenty-six Counties can go through as well because a lot of people in the South go through the education system and they leave down the pen after doing paper 2 in Irish in the leaving certificate and that is it. They do not write another word in Irish although they might say a few words. It is a reawakening that is needed for so many people across the island. It is not a Catholic language; it is part of ancestral Ireland. If all communities can understand and accept that then it can be a language that will unify the island; not physically or governmentally but in a peaceful existence, which is important. The placenames are a wonderful way of illustrating that. I mentioned Derry and Belfast and there are hundreds of other examples, from large towns to small villages which have that connection. There are so many words and it is a wonderful part of our history.Your contribution can only assist in developing relations on this island.

I wish you well in your continued journey. I know others are with you, such as Miranda, the lady who contacted you. I am sure there are many others throughout Northern Ireland. I wish you well in your endeavours for Irish. The language is part of the history, tradition and culture of the island. Irish is included in the Acht teanga but Ulster Scots is also included in recognition of that language. That has its own place and tradition as well.