Eugene Murphy (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I want to pay tribute to the late Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh who was an institution in this country. It is probably not that long ago since he became the main broadcaster on sports for RTÉ - it was only in 1984 or 1985 when he took all over from Mícheál O'Hehir who stepped down and retired at that stage. Bhí suim mhór ag Mícheál sa teanga. He was a most outstanding man for the Irish language. Bhí sé ábalta labhairt as Béarla agus as Gaeilge ag an am céanna. He did more for the Irish language than anybody else. When young people listened to him in GAA clubs, schools or wherever, they said he had a lovely way of getting the language, our traditional language, across to them. We all know that sometimes Irish is a challenge for people. I want to extend my sympathy to his family.He was 92, so he had reached an advanced age. He retired in 2010 but he was as popular as ever, even though he was 14 years gone from the broadcasting scene.

I ask the Leader to request that the Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works, OPW, come to the Chamber again. I thank the Leader for visiting Lough Funshinagh in County Roscommon. We have to let people know that the problem is as big today as it was when the Tánaiste, the Taoiseach and the Leader were there. It has not gone away. Two or three weeks of wet weather will threaten that community again. Water is still lapping up around people's homes. People in Dublin cannot believe this when I tell them but the dry water has not really solved anything. That threat remains. It is important that the Attorney General and the Government find a solution to remove that water on a temporary basis. The court order must be lifted so we can try to get water removed from the area before the winter comes.