Michael Ring . . . whose surname translates as 'fainne', the symbol traditionally worn by people fluent 'as Gaeilge' . . . was last week appointed by Enda Kenny to shadow the Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Minister, Eamon O Cuiv. However, Fine Gael will this week name a "junior spokesman" to take care of the 'gaeltacht' part of his brief. Ring claimed that neither former gaeltacht minister Sile de Valera nor the Taoiseach had Irish, and said that he himself would be "dealing with the community and the rural interests".

Asked if he thought it was in his interest to take Irish lessons, regarding the promotion of the language, he said: "I do intend to do that and I'm going to try and do that."