Cuirim fáilte roimh an fhógra gur ghlac an Coiste Feidhmiúcháin an cinneadh stairiúil le coimisinéir Gaeilge agus coimisinéir Ultaise a cheapadh. Gabhaim buíochas le pobal na Gaeilge as a gcuid oibre le blianta fada leis an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn.

[Translation: I welcome the announcement that the Executive have taken the historic decision to appoint an Irish language commissioner and a commissioner for Ulster Scots. I thank the Irish language community for its work over many years to promote the Irish language.]

I am grateful to the small group of volunteers in Coalisland who fundraised for and founded Gaelscoil Uí Néill. I thank them for the opportunity that they gave my child, and hundreds of other children, to be educated through the medium of Irish. Gaelscoil Uí Néill is a thriving bilingual nursery and primary school that serves all the families in Coalisland and the surrounding area who want their children to be taught through the medium of Irish.

Tá an t-ádh orainn go bhfuil pobal Gaeilge faoi bhláth ar fud mo thoghcheantair, Lár Uladh. Tá a fhios agam gur céim cheart é coimisinéir teanga a cheapadh lena chinntiú go gcuirfear an teanga chun cinn mar is ceart agus go dtabharfar an tacaíocht cheart di.

[Translation: We are fortunate that the Irish language community is thriving throughout my constituency of Mid Ulster. I know that appointing a language commissioner is the right step to ensuring that the language is promoted properly and that it is given the right support.]

Mid Ulster District Council introduced an Irish language street-sign policy when I was a councillor over 10 years ago. It is lovely to see many residents across my district of Mid Ulster embracing the bilingual signage, which illustrates an important part of the culture of all of us. Whether our background is Irish Scots, Gaeilge or whatever, it is really important and tells us something about the place from where we came.

I welcome the Education Minister's confirmation that work on the new build for Gaelscoil Úi Néill will begin in the coming months. Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire, Paul Givan, as a chuairt ar an scoil le pleananna na scoile nua a fheiceáil agus le blaiseadh a fháil ar a fháiltí atá na daoine óga agus foireann Ghaelscoil Uí Néill.

[Translation: I thank the Minister, Paul Givan, for visiting the school to see the plans for the new build and to see how welcoming the young people and the staff of Gaelscoil Uí Néill are.]