Cecilia Keaveney (Fianna Fail)

I want to raise two issues that are loosely connected to sport in a negative sense. Can we have a debate on the return of sectarianism in the North that led to the death of a person recently in Coleraine? It is important we highlight our disdain and distaste for these people who are opposed to the spirit of what 99.9% of the people in the whole of Ulster and the whole of the island of Ireland feel at this stage. To have it loosely associated with the results of a particular soccer championship brings sport into disrepute as well. The whole thing is appalling, and it is about time we raised our voices in the Upper House on this matter. We should show our solidarity with the rest of our colleagues and friends right across the island and say we do not stand up for this and we do not support it.

I seek a debate on the Irish language and Irish culture which come within the remit of the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Ó Cuív. At a meeting of the Council of Europe in Paris last week I was informed that owing to the successful measures taken by the Irish Government in the form of the Legal Practitioners (Irish Language) Act 2008, An Coimisinéir Teanga and other initiatives, Irish has moved from being an endangered language to a vulnerable language, which is a progressive step. It is important we debate this issue given the stated policy of the main Opposition party to abolish this ministry should it be returned to Government. I hope that in its endeavour not to support the Irish language, the main Opposition party does not, given Irish is loosely associated with sport, also encourage disrespect or disassociation with the GAA or culture in general. A debate on this issue would be timely given the forthcoming elections and ensuing decisions in regard to policies and so on.