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

I welcome the Minister of State's response. I appreciate his good work in the area of the revival of the Irish language and in ensuring that the derogation will be lifted. A failure to lift the derogation would send out a bad signal and would result in a recruitment deficit when translators are needed. We need to put supports in place for the Irish language. I ask the Minister of State if he has received feedback on the views of the EU institutions in general about an extension of the derogation.

I understand they do not have a position.

The sooner we can make a decision on this, the better from Ireland's perspective. That this Government is focused on job creation and getting Ireland working again is a good news story in this area. The ending of this derogation will provide an opportunity to create 180 jobs and it will send out a very positive signal in terms of the revival of the language.

Will the Minister indicate who will make the ultimate decision? Will it be the Taoiseach or the Minister's Department? Who will eventually decide on it? Over €8 million has been spent to date in the provision of courses to meet the needs of European Union institutions for assistants, translators, interpreters, lawyers and linguists. Up to the end of 2012, some 243 people have graduated from those courses. It is important to ensure we keep that skill set in Ireland and that these jobs are created. The Minister might indicate when he expects a decision to be made regarding the lifting of this derogation.

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