Rónán Mullen (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim fáilte ó chroí romhat agus gabhaim buíochas leat, Linda, thar ceann gach duine, as ucht na ceannaireachta cultúrtha atá tú ag tabhairt dúinn ar fad. I thank you for the cultural leadership you give that is so important, at this time. When I think about the Irish language, I think about something that is very fragile in many ways, especially in this generation. Great steps have been taken, in both jurisdictions, to promote the importance of Irish and the rights of people. Plenty of ground still has to be covered.

However, I think of the recent Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla (Leasú) 2021 and the steps we are taking politically to ensure in future our Civil Service recruits a minimum percentage of people who are capable of providing services to people through Irish. That would seem like a basic requirement for the revival, protection and promotion of our national language, but there we are. Thankfully, good things are happening.

However, when I think of Irish, I think of something that is not primarily political, but cultural and of something that has the capacity to be a carrier of beauty and a forger of understanding. Too often in our history, language and faith have been used as definers of division among people and used as causes when, in fact, lived properly, these are things that unite.

I would like to see the day when we do not have association in people's minds between the Irish language and phrases such as tiocfaidh ár lá. I prefer to think of phrases such as duine le Dia, that beautiful, moving Irish phrase to describe a person with disabilities - God's own people. When you sit down to a meal, you bless ár gcuid agus ár gcuideachta; our portion and our company. I think of our beautiful placenames.

I think of the influence of Irish on the English language as we speak it in Ireland. If you go to London and tell somebody that your brother broke your bike on you, the person might have an idea that he physically took your bicycle and broke it over your head. Of course, that comes from the Irish, bhris sé mo rothar orm. There are so many ways in how we speak English in this country that are influenced by our Irish language heritage.

It is so important to keep reminding ourselves that it is not just the heritage of one section of the community. When one thinks of athbheochan na teanga and the wonderful work that was done with the Celtic revival from the 19th century onwards, so many names associated with the Protestant community were central to the revival and appreciation of the Irish language. It is true there were nationalist aspirations, but there was something much more significant and uniting going on.

With that modest contribution I welcome you. Treisigh leat. Keep her lit. Keep this good work going on all our behalf.