Vincent P Martin (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim fáilte roimh ár gcuairteoir speisialta. Is mór an trua é nach bhfuil Gaeilge líofa agam. Ba mhaith liom feabhas a chur ar mo chuid Gaeilge. Tugann daoine cosúil le Linda inspioráid dom. Is iomaí duine ina ceantar féin atá ag foghlaim Gaeilge don chéad uair. Tá ardmheas agam ort, a Linda.

The Irish language will only stay alive for as long as it is spoken. When a tree no longer bears fruit, it has no future. However, when new shoots come through the soil, we know that other trees are growing. All hope is not lost. There is new growth taking place. A future is possible. Tá an Ghaeilge fós beo. Tá daoine cosúil le Linda ag coimeád beo í. New shoots are in east Belfast which are now firmly rooted.

Other commentators describe the Irish language as being on its knees, but it is still here. Linda, you are an example of someone who found it and embraced it. You made it your own. It is a language that belongs to everyone. Is ár dteanga féin í. It is a precious jewel. It belongs to no political party, creed or community. It is older than all the political parties on this island. It has been and is still spoken by all traditions and none and must never become entangled in divisive politics. It should never be marginalised.

On your wonderful journey, you have remained truly loyal to your background, beliefs and unionism. Unionism and its culture, which is an important part of our identity on this island, can be in a stronger place with people like you. It can be in a safer and more confident place. All of us, North and South, can take a leaf from your book and your leadership. You are a woman making your own history and history will record that you broke new ground and opened new hearts and minds to the beautiful language of Irish. Last year, in the Seanad, I congratulated you on your MBE and the incredible work you are doing.

I also know your brother-in-law is the late David Ervine. We are honoured to have Brian Ervine, his brother, in the Chamber today. I greatly admired David. He looked to the future. He was born into loyalism but he was authentic and wanted to look to a future and not the past. He was a huge impetus at the time of the peace agreement in Northern Ireland.

I remember him, before Ian Paisley had the road to Damascus conversion and became a working friend Martin McGuinness, saying "Big Ian, cop yourself on". I thought that was so refreshing. I remember it like it was yesterday when that peace agreement was struck and David Ervine leaving the building, saying in his lovely vernacular, "I don't know about the rest of you. I'm dog tired. I'm going to the pub." It is funny what you remember.

I had the pleasure of meeting David. He was in the Abbey Theatre at a time when it might not have been politically so easy to come down here. He attended Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme, a wonderful play by my former lecturer, Frank McGuinness. Maybe a challenge for us would be to put on that play as Gaeilge at some stage.

It is funny what you should say about the lies spun about you that did not put you off course. At the Green Party Ard-Fheis last year, we had a guest speaker, Professor Monica McWilliams, who played a pivotal role in the peace process. She said lies were spun about her that she was having affairs. Anything was done to attack the man or woman and not the ball.

However, great efforts have been made. I draw an analogy between the Irish language and the Tricolour, which sometimes can scare people. I remember a Member of this House, a founder and former member of a political party called the Progressive Democrats giving his presidential address to the Ard-Fheis. They tried to take back the Tricolour.I do not know if he remembers this. He does not do things by half measures. He plastered the place with Tricolours and they were all over the platform from which he spoke. There was a definite meaning to what he tried to do, just like when Michael Noonan, who is a very decent man, professed that he was an Irish republican and proud of it when he became leader of Fine Gael. We have to take back what is ours and only look to ourselves, not to others, to criticise. Linda will be an inspiration for us all and we are honoured to have her here today. I congratulate and commend an Cathaoirleach on making what I consider an historic address to this Chamber. We are so proud that he gave that address here today.