Few subjects over the generations have been the target of so much hypocrisy and lip service as the Irish language. I want to ask the Taoiseach a question about this today. While respecting the Taoiseach's improvements in spoken Irish, I will ask the question in English.

In 1924, the then Minister for Education, Deputy Mulcahy, introduced a scheme whereby Irish was to become the spoken language of the people. By 1930 it was obvious that this was going to fail. In 1934 compulsion was introduced for the Irish language. In 1973 the compulsion element was removed so that students might pass the leaving certificate, which was very important. While it is still compulsory for students to study Irish language classes for the leaving certificate, it is not compulsory to sit the examination, however.

The Coimisinéir Teanga in his report estimates that €500 million a year is being spent on teaching the language. He estimates that every child from primary certificate to leaving certificate gets 1,500 hours of tuition in the language. He points out clearly that most young people leave school without any reasonable command of Irish, despite the innovative methods available today.

Department of Education and Science statistics show that fewer young people who learn Irish attempt the honours leaving certificate paper as compared to student performances in any other language. Census 2002 showed that in the vast majority of cases, as soon as students finish the leaving certificate, they leave Irish behind them. In the last census only 70,000 people said they used it on a daily basis. I want to do something about this and it is time that politically we take it by the scruff of the neck and reform the situation from top to bottom.

Does the Taoiseach as Head of Government, honestly believe that the compulsion element to what now exists actually assists in the learning of Irish and puts sufficient emphasis on it as a spoken language? Does it do anything to encourage students who sit in classes from junior certificate to leaving certificate, to become involved with their native tongue?

I appreciate the points the Deputy makes and that he is genuinely trying to do something to promote the Irish language. People have been attempting to do that since the foundation of the State. Concerns have been raised about the spoken language for as long as I can remember and people have been trying to improve the situation by one means or another. In more recent years efforts have been made to get more people involved in the language. This Government, and successive Governments, have resourced these initiatives. We have tried to maintain a separate Department for Irish, train more teachers and put much more resources into the teacher training colleges, to promote the language. We have a language Bill, Bille na Gaeilge, put money into TG4 and more recently we have made resources available for the Gaelscoileanna, the scoileanna lán-Ghaelach, which are promoting the language.

I do not claim to be an expert in the subject, so I am not going to turn myself into one for two minutes. However, the argument is that if any level of compulsion is removed, students not in Gaelscoileanna might take no interest in the language and that the limited amount of Irish among the majority of the population will be further limited. As mentioned by Deputy Kenny, the statistics prove that when compulsory Irish at leaving certificate was removed from the equation, fewer people took the subject and that trend has continued down through the years. I do not know whether the more recent surveys show this, but that was certainly evident some time ago. The danger is that this trend will continue. A great number of people indicate on the census form that they have some facility in Irish. The reality is, however, this too is declining.

I recently saw a programme on the Welsh language and what was being done in Wales to promote it through the schools and television. All such initiatives are necessary. From a Government viewpoint, however, my concern is that if Irish is taken out of the schools the amount of Irish will be even more limited in ten years time. The decision in 1973, as I recall, was made on the basis that perhaps more people would speak Irish, but this was not the experience and that hypothesis did not hold up.

The Deputy asked for my view and I believe that what is happening in the Gaelscoileanna is a good initiative. It is an expensive initiative. Equally, what is happening in the colleges, in St. Patrick's College, Drumcondra, the Marino Institute, Coláiste Mhuire gan Smál, Limerick etc., is a good investment and should be continued. The investment in TG4 and its independence, with the station operating on its own, is also doing a very good job for the language. These are all good initiatives.

I support all that very strongly, but we have to go beyond this. We are now faced with a multicultural society where lectures are being given in Polish, Russian and other languages for workers around the country, as is right and proper. Yet, as regards our native tongue, there is this element at its centre where it is compulsory to study the language, but not to take it in the leaving certificate. I have here the rule book of programmes for secondary schools. There are 34 subjects listed in this official book and the only compulsory subject is Irish. There is no compulsion in Wales for the Welsh language and they have set very modest targets. This House should do for the language what Riverdance has done for Irish dancing. If it is taught properly, using the skill and experience of teachers and the modern innovative methods available in teaching all languages, students will want to study the language at junior certificate because they understand it. They will not be tied down in the details of complicated grammar. Those students can make up their minds whether to join the Defence Forces. They can work and get married at 16, they can own and drive a moped, yet we tell them they must study this language.

I support everything the Taoiseach has said about Irish being an official European language, the great job done by TG4, the mná tithe and Raidió na Gaeltachta. However, these organisations are in the voluntary sector and do not have the same compulsory aspect. I know an Teachta Ó Máirtín has an interest in this. It is not just a question of clinging to a 75 year old sacred cow that will not deliver. This is about looking at 2005 and beyond to the next generation of students, who should be involved in a language that is taught in a vibrant and energetic way. It should not be a subject to which they show resentment. We should offer students that choice beyond the junior certificate and do all of the things mentioned, so that its future is guaranteed as a living, vibrant language.

This has been the policy of successive Governments since the foundation of the State. Many policies have changed, but the policy of promoting the Irish language to maximise those who speak it has not changed. The point made by the Deputy is whether we get the best value for the effort and money invested. It is a point for debate and I will not disagree with any of the experts who have examined this. I presume Irish is the only compulsory subject of the 34 mentioned by the Deputy because it is the only subject that is our native language. Many people drop out or do not engage with the other subjects because there is no compulsion to take them. The argument is that if Irish is not compulsory will fewer people study it. It does not apply to families that have a passionate interest in Gaelscoileanna. The people that have an interest in doing well in Irish because they like it or are involved in Cumann Lúthchleas Gael and dancing groups will always have an interest in Irish, because they are pursuing that interest outside of school. Such people happen to be more proficient in Irish and have a greater love for it. What about everyone else? I cannot answer that question as I do not know. Will everybody else speak less Irish if there is a level of compulsion, or will they bother? There are many good activities, such as the Gaelscoileanna, the work of TG4, the efforts of the teacher training colleges and the Irish summer colleges. I certainly agree that the complicated grammar studied in schools does much to put people off the language. If there was more emphasis on spoken language, we would certainly be better off and I would certainly be better at the language.