A seminar on the Irish language in Dublin today aims to stimulate a national debate on the issue.
Fine Gael is holding a half-day conference in Dublin's Alexander Hotel on the theme: Irish in the 21th Century.
Party leader Enda Kenny said: "I want the Irish language to flourish in every school and home. It's time for an honest debate about the best way forward."
Speakers at today's event include Welsh Language Board chairman Meri Huws and Chris McGimpsey of the Ulster Unionist Party.
Fine Gael's Gaeltacht Affairs spokesman Dinny McGinley said the Irish language should not be used as a political football by politicians but should unite people on the island of Ireland.
"Irish is too important to become a political football. It is vanishing from the primary school curriculum and must be rescued as a living, breathing language," he said.
Mr McGinley recalled that the language can unite communities and pointed out the Gaelic League and Conradh na Gaeilge bodies were co-founded by members of several political and religious beliefs. Irish has many similarities with the Scots Gaelic which many Unionists are trying to preserve, he added.
The TD, who lives in the Gweedore Gaeltacht in Co Donegal, pointed to the example of the Welsh language, which has seen a popular revival in recent years with Government-supported programmes.
PA