Peadar Tóibín

-----they would be smaller parties and would have less chance for Government. As a result, they are seeking to block the path towards unity.

A post-republican party.

Is the Deputy voting for Heather?

85. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the steps his Department is taking to promote the Irish language in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51547/25]

Scríobh Charles Dickens an abairt "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times". Is féidir an méid céanna a rá mar gheall ar an nGaeilge. Tá go leor fuinnimh sa Ghaeilge ag an mbomaite, go háirithe ar na meáin shóisialta. Tá sé feicthe ag daoine gach lá. Tá go leor suim ag daoine óga inti. Mar gheall ar an Oireachtas, tá go leor fuinnimh ann an bhliain seo freisin ach tá go leor de na ruda…

I slí amháin, tá an ceart ag an Aire. Tá dea-scéalta ann anseo agus ansiúd ach, nuair a fheiceann tú an pictiúr iomlán, tá fadhbanna móra ann. Tá an tAire ag caint faoi airgead. Ba mhaith liom maoiniú an Arts Council a chur i gcomparáid leis an airgead a théann go dtí an Ghaeilge. Thar na blianta, mhéadaigh an t-airgead a théann go dtí an Arts Council go mór ach níor choiméadadh an Ghaeilge ar an …

Tá an chuid is mó de na naíonraí sa Ghaeltacht ag feidhmiú trí Bhéarla ag an mbomaite. Tá sé sin dochreidte. Nuair a théann páistí go dtí an chéad chéim, bíonn brú orthu an Béarla a labhairt. Mar gheall ar an rud is tábhachtaí, tá titim ar an líon daoine atá ag labhairt na Gaeilge taobh amuigh den chóras oideachais bliain i ndiaidh bliana. Is teip ollmhór ó thaobh an Rialtais é sin. Tá clanna atá …

Ní fheicim aon systemic change mar gheall ar na rudaí sin.

Yesterday, the Scoliosis Advocacy Network and the families of children affected by the scoliosis crisis gave a presentation in the audiovisual room. Mothers told of the deaths of their children and of the continuous extreme pain many children felt and others told of lungs and stomachs being crushed and their children being disabled for the lack of treatment. Images were shown of rods that were ins…

Will the Taoiseach tell these children and parents they will no longer have to wait for this life-and-death treatment?

I asked Simon Harris 13 months ago how many children were taken off the waiting list for scoliosis treatment. Some 13 months later, Simon Harris does not know the answer to that question. That is an incredible situation. The Taoiseach spoke about the folding of CHI into the HSE. I welcome that. It is something we pushed for. I had this debate with the Taoiseach. The truth of the matter is that unl…

It is 15 years of Fine Gael in the Department.

Accountability.

Our Private Members' business is next week.

It is next week, not today. The Government is using today's time for its motion.

It is the first time since 1976 that a motion has been brought forward by one week.

We have had no time.

This is the first time I have been able to do so.

I could not have brought it in earlier.

This is your motion. Ours is next week.

No, I did not.

Fact-free sentence.

Immune from facts.

That is rubbish. I never said that.

No.