Joe Conway (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Ar an gcéad dul síos, tacaím go hiomlán leis an Seanadóir Cosgrove as an méid a dúirt sí faoin saghas stailce atá ar siúl inniu maidir le comhphobal na Gaeilge agus muintir na Gaeltachta. The ad hoc strike of 40 or more organisations is taking place today mar tá a ladar curtha isteach ag an DUP i Rialtas Thuaisceart na hÉireann. It has stuck its oar in to obstruct the payment of €820,000 to Foras na Gaeilge. Effectively, unless there is cross-Border unity on this matter, the money will not be disbursed. I am asking every Member of the House to go back to his or her party and bring instant and formidable pressure on the parties to ensure this does not remain behind the door and that the money is released to the organisations around the country that so desperately need it for the housekeeping matters itemised by Senator Cosgrove in her contribution.

I am sometimes at a loss to know why this business of the Gaeilge is brought up as a type of meme or a Luddite attitude, perhaps most significantly among the DUP north of the Border. It seems that the DUP uses the Irish language as a sort of cultural meme to slap down uppity Taigs who are pursuing their cultural identity. Many people in these Houses would agree when I say that the days of slapping down uppity Taigs are long gone. We should put pressure on the logjam here to release the money and let those organisations that so desperately need it get the airgead atá tuillte acu.