Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for the opportunity to raise this important issue. I wish to use my time to highlight the importance of lifting the derogation for the Irish language in order that it can be used as the official and working language of the European Union. As the Leas-Cheann Comhairle is aware, Irish became an official and working language of the European Union on 1 January 2007 but since then, only a limited amount of legislation has been translated into the Irish language. This is as a result of a lack of qualified legal translators with the skills to so do. As a result, there is a derogation in place which states that the EU institutions are not bound by the obligation to translate all legal texts. The derogation period to date has provided the Government with sufficient time to ensure that competent and skilled staff are trained and available to undertake the translation work needed in the EU.

Should this derogation be lifted it is estimated that approximately 180 jobs would be created in translating texts as Gaeilge for use in the European Union. There will be excellent career opportunities available for Irish speakers in EU institutions in Brussels and Luxembourg as a consequence.

The derogation was originally in place for five years from 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2011 but this was then extended for another five-year period from 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2016. I ask the Minister of State to outline the progress that was made in training legal translators during the first derogation period which ended in December 2011. It is my hope that this derogation will be lifted to ensure that Irish is used as an official and working language. If this is not to be, I ask the Minister of State to ensure that the derogation is not extended for another five-year period from 2016 onwards. The Minister of State recently confirmed to me that he hopes that the Government will consider the ending of the derogation in early 2014. I hope that the matter is fully considered by the Cabinet and that the benefits of lifting the derogation are fully examined.

The Government is already planning for the end of the derogation at some point. The 20-year strategy for the Irish language 2010-30, states: "The Government will work to create the circumstances in which a sufficient number of qualified graduates are in place to meet EU requirement needs so that this derogation can be ended during the lifetime of this Strategy". I would be grateful if the Minister of State could confirm what action has been taken thus far to ensure that graduates are skilled in this area and to confirm how many graduates are currently qualified and trained to meet EU requirements should the derogation be lifted soon. Does the Minister of State expect that there will be sufficient numbers of translators trained and available to lift the derogation in the near future?

I am aware that the Department is currently providing funding under the advanced Irish language skills initiative to offer specialised third-level Irish language in translation, etc. I ask the Minister of State to say where these courses are available and I ask the him to confirm what is the take-up for these courses has been to date.

See this speech in context