On behalf of Fianna Fáil, I offer our condolences to the family of Gertrude Mallon, wife of the former deputy leader of the SDLP, deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland and former Member of this House, Seamus Mallon, who passed away yesterday. A lifelong SDLP member, Gertrude was her husband's biggest advocate. Her support for Seamus and the peace process in Northern Ireland made her a force in her own right. The description of her by the leader of the SDLP, Colum Eastwood, MLA, as a pillar of strength and a source of hope in the dark days of the Troubles rightly sums up her contribution to achieving peace on the island. A nurse by profession, the skills of her job transcended into her life with Seamus where compassion, strength and warmth were the order of the day.

I extend my deepest sympathy and that of the Fianna Fáil Party to Seamus and Orla, their daughter. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

Tá mé ag iarraidh ar Cheannaire an Tí cuireadh a thabhairt don Aire Stáit atá freagrach as an nGaeltacht teacht isteach chomh luath agus is féidir. Tá easpa suime léirithe ó thaobh na Gaeilge de agus ó thaobh fhorbairt na teanga agus ní hamháin sa Ghaeltacht ach sa tír seo ar fad. Sa bhuiséad a bhí ann an tseachtain seo caite, tá laghdú de 40% tagtha ar thacaíocht do Sheachtain na Gaeilge ó 2015 go 2016. Tá laghdú de 50% tagtha ar thacaíocht d'Údarás na Gaeltachta ó thaobh fostaíocht a chur ar fáil do mhuintir na Gaeltachta sna Gaeltachtaí. One of the things of which we can be most proud is our connection with the Irish language. The Government is ignoring Irish speakers and treating us as if we lived on an Indian reservation. I ask the Leader to ask the Minister of State with responsibility for the Gaeltacht to outline his Department's policy on the Gaeltacht and the development of the Irish language. It was great to see students from a secondary school in the House earlier. We must teach and hand on to them those things that are unique and special about being Irish. We are very proud of being Irish and the more European and global we become and the more pervasive the Internet becomes, the more we must say this is who we are and this is what we, as a people, are about. Our language and culture are key in that regard. I seek the support of all Senators in protecting the Irish language and culture and ensuring people living in the Gaeltacht regions enjoy similar employment opportunities as people living outside the Gaeltacht. We are treated as second class, if not third class, citizens.