I want to bring to the attention of Members the decision of TG4 not to broadcast a debate around the presidential election. What TG4 is doing is keeping thousands of people out of the conversation. I am a member of the Traveller community. My first language should be Cant but, unfortunately, it is not. Our language was robbed from us and I am raising this issue today because I am afraid that the same thing will happen to Irish-speaking people. A lot of Irish people in Donegal get their information from the likes of TG4, which got €60 million in public money this year. It got €60 million but it cannot or will not host a debate around the presidential election. I urge TG4 to think again about what it is doing to its viewers. If this was RTÉ or Virgin Media, we would definitely have them in front of the media committee. TG4 should be held accountable for not having a debate around the presidential election. I know that Heather Humphreys was a Minister with responsibility for the Irish language for three years. I also know that Jim Gavin was a representative of an Irish festival a few years ago. The three candidates claim to value, respect and honour the Irish language.

Some of the candidates do not speak Irish but it is up to TG4 to facilitate that debate. It did so in 2011 and there is no reason it cannot do it again. Many elderly people in our society - many people whose first language is Irish - are locked out of this debate. That should not be the case when the channel is getting €60 million of public money. I urge TG4 to review this and have a debate for people who are fluent in Irish and get their information from the channel.

I have very little time to speak about the Irish flag. Before I was a Senator, I used to go to protests for workers' rights, migrant rights and women's rights and feel so proud to stand underneath the Irish flag. Nowadays, our flag is being used to intimidate us by the far right and I would like to have a debate about the Irish flag because there are many people in society who are a bit lost with the conversation about the flag. There is a lot of fear out there as well, so I would like to have a debate on the importance of the flag.

Just to say, I do not have two words of Irish. I am probably the only Senator in here who is ridiculous when it comes to Irish. I could not even say "Cathaoirleach" when I first came here. That does not mean I do not value the Irish language and my colleagues, like Deputies Ó Snodaigh and Connolly, make sure to involve me in Irish coffee mornings and the Irish committee. It is really important we support those who do not speak Irish as well.

Today, we remember our great friend and colleague, Dr. Martin Mansergh, who died at the weekend. It was heartbreaking when the news came in south Tipperary, and so suddenly, but he was doing what he loved best. He leaves behind a legacy defined by intellect, integrity and an unwavering dedication to Ireland. A distinguished scholar, diplomat, politician and peacemaker, he played a pivotal role in shaping Irish political life and advancing the peace process in Northern Ireland. As a trusted adviser to successive taoisigh and a central figure in Fianna Fáil, Dr. Mansergh was deeply involved in the negotiations that led to the Good Friday Agreement. His gift for bridging divides, fostering dialogue and nurturing mutual understanding earned him respect right across the political spectrum, from Sinn Féin and the SDLP to leaders in both Dublin and Belfast. His service spanned decades from his time as a Senator to his election as a TD for Tipperary South and later as a Minister of State. Through every role, his commitment to the people and the pursuit of people never faltered. On a personal level, he was a great support throughout my campaigns. During the general election, he gave unwavering advice. To Dr. Mansergh's wife Liz, his children, grandchildren and his former secretary Geraldine Fuller, I send my sincere sympathies. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

Bhí sé iontach an tacaíocht ar fad maidir leis an nGaeilge agus an chraoltóireacht trí mheán na Gaeilge a chloisteáil mar is é sin atá ar intinn agam a phlé tráthnóna. Ba mhaith liom aird a tharraingt ar an éiginnteacht atá ann go fóill mar gheall ar sheirbhís nuachta neamhspleách do TG4. In 2022, ghlac an Rialtas le moladh ón gCoimisiún um Thodhchaí na Meán go mbeadh "ceannas neamhspleách eagarthóireachta" ag TG4 ar a sholáthar nuachta chun seirbhís níos fearr a chur ar fail dá lucht féachana, rud a luaigh an Seanadóir Flynn cúpla nóiméad ó shin. Faoi láthair, is RTÉ a chuireann “Nuacht TG4” agus “Seacht Lá” ar fáil do TG4.

Mar thoradh air sin, áfach, níl sé de cheart ag iriseoirí nó léiritheoirí nuachta scéal úr nó nua a bhriseadh ar TG4, go dtí go bhfuil sé briste nó craolta ar RTÉ.

Anuas air sin, níl sé de cheart ag Nuacht TG4 cúntas Instagram, X nó TikTok a bhunú, rud atá an-aisteach do dhaonolathas na tíre seo. I mo bharúil, tá sé de cheart ag pobal labhartha na Gaeilge a chuid nuacht a fháil trí mheán na Gaeilge, agus is cosúil gur sin a dúirt an moladh ón gCoimisiún um Thodhchaí na Meán trí bliana ó shin. Cén fáth mar sin go bhfuil moill ar an bpróiséas neamhspleáchas? Ní dóigh liom go bhfuil sé maith go leor, nach bhfuil aon dul chun chinn déanta ón uair sin.

Rud amháin eile atá ag cur isteach orm maidir le seo ná go bhfuil stop curtha leis an bpróiseas earcaíochta do cheannaire nuachta agus cursaí reatha TG4. Fógraíodh an post i mí na Bealtaine seo caite nuair a tháinig Deirdre Ní Choistín i gcomharbacht ar Alan Esslemont mar ardstiúrthóir an stáisiúin. De réir tuairiscí anois, tá stop curtha leis an bpróiséas sin agus ní fios cén fáth.

A cheannaire, tá an spéis chéanna i gcúrsaí nuachta ag lucht féachana na Gaeilge is atá ag lucht féachana an Bhéarla. Braitheann daonlathas láidir ar sheirbhís nuachta cruinn, agus tá sé de dhualgas orainn san Oireachtas an cheist a chur ar an Roinn, ar RTÉ agus ar Choimisiúin na Meán cén fáth nach bhfuil aon dul chun cinn déanta maidir le seo ó 2022 ar aghaidh.