Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

As previously indicated to the House in replies to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 48 and 81 on 14 Nollaig 2004, a process of discussions has been initiated with the other EU member states and the EU institutions seeking official and working language status for the Irish language in the EU under EEC Regulation 1/1958. The regulation is the legal instrument that governs the EU institutions' official and working language regime.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs announced on 24 November 2004 that Ireland had tabled a formal proposal, by way of a draft amendment to EEC Regulation 1/1958, requesting that official and working language status be accorded to the Irish language. The focus in the discussions, which are ongoing, with representatives of other EU member states and the EU institutions is on securing agreement on the practical modalities for this objective. As indicated in previous replies, it is inappropriate for me to make any public comment on the detail of these discussions until they have been brought to a conclusion.

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