-----see Irish unity as a threat to themselves.

Liam Mellows said that if a Border was to arise, there would rise two establishments North and South, both depending on the Border for their existence and so it has happened. Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are both regional parties, not national parties, and in a united Ireland Dáil-----

-----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?

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 rudaí tábhachtacha - an líon daoine atá ag labhairt na Gaeilge sa Ghaeltacht, an líon páistí atá ag déanamh Gaeilge le hagha…

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 gcéim chéanna leis. Má chuireann tú Údarás na Gaeltachta i gcomparáid le Fiontar Éireann ná an IDA, feicfidh tú go bhfai…

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 ag iarraidh a chuid páistí a thógáil sa Ghaeltacht ag iarraidh teach a bheith acu sa Ghaeltacht ach níl siad ann. Tá an …

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 inserted breaking through the skin of the children. We heard about children suffering from infertility and higher rates of …

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 unless you get to the core of the dysfunction at management level, it is not going to make a whit of difference. I also wel…

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.