Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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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.

Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as an cheist seo a ardú. I will begin by explaining the background to the derogation. Irish was recognised as an official and working language of the European Union on 1 January 2007. The original derogation with regard to the use of Irish in EU institutions applied for five years from 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2011. This was extended for another five years from 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2016. As a result of the derogation, the EU institutions are not obliged to translate all legal texts into Irish. Under its terms, only those EU laws made under the co-decision procedure must be translated into Irish. However, the coming into effect of the Lisbon treaty on 1 December 2009, had the effect of making the co-decision procedure the norm, rather than the exception, for EU law-making. This has resulted in a significant increase in the proportion of EU laws that must be translated into Irish.

The Council Regulation 1257/2010, on the derogation, requires a decision to be made by December 2015 at the latest as to whether to extend the derogation for another five years. The EU institutions would welcome a definitive decision by the Government before the end of 2014, in order to facilitate orderly planning of any recruitment requirements that might arise. It is worth noting in this context, that the derogation itself makes reference to the difficulties experienced to date by the EU institutions in recruiting sufficient numbers of qualified personnel for positions as Irish language translators, legal and linguistic experts, interpreters and assistants.

As well as ensuring the availability of people with the requisite skills to take up positions in the EU institutions, the generation of terminology for use in the translation of official documents is also a key factor to be considered. With this in mind, two significant initiatives have been funded by my Department for the past number of years, the inter active terminology for Europe initiative, IATE, and the advanced Irish language skills initiative.

Funding is provided to Fiontar in Dublin City University to translate Irish language terms for the EU terminology database called IATE. The amount provided by my Department to Fiontar from 2007 to 2012 was in excess of €1.85 million. In addition, funding has been approved for the continuation of this initiative in 2013 and 2014. As a result of this investment, in excess of 50,000 Irish language terms have been provided for the terminology database, which consists of 9 million terms in the 23 official languages of the EU. Of the 23 official languages, Irish is now the 14th biggest language in this EU terminology database.

The advanced Irish language skills initiative was established in 2006 as a response to an identified need to increase the numbers of graduates with skills in specific areas in the context of the Official Languages Act 2003 and with Irish becoming an official language of the EU. The provision of qualified persons with Irish language skills to meet these recruitment needs is being achieved through this initiative. The Department provides funding for a range of specialised third-level Irish language courses in Ireland in areas such as translation, interpretation, IT and law. The fund is administered by my Department in conjunction with the Higher Education Authority. In excess of €11 million has been spent on this initiative to date.

As regards employment in the EU institutions in general, the Government recognises the strategic importance to Ireland's interest of employment for Irish citizens in EU posts, including posts directly related to the Irish-language. Earlier this year, the Government approved new arrangements to facilitate Departments to send officials to work in the EU as seconded national experts. These new arrangements are an indication of how important it is for Irish officials to get an opportunity to work in policy areas within the EU institutions. As those working in language related posts, in particular those working in lawyer-linguist posts, frequently transfer to EU policy areas, the importance of filling these posts cannot be overestimated in terms of the Government's overall strategy of increasing the Irish presence in the EU institutions.

The 20-year strategy for the Irish language 2010-30, contains the following commitment: "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". For some time my Department and relevant stakeholders, including the EU institutions, have been actively engaged in discussions regarding the issue of the derogation in order to formulate specific proposals on the optimal approach for the future. It is my intention to present these proposals to Government at the earliest opportunity in 2014.

Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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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.

Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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The Council Regulation (EU) No. 1257/2010 on the derogation requires a decision to be made on this issue by December 2015. In our opinion, that would be leaving it too late. The Government would like to be in a position to convey whatever decision we make before the end of 2014. However, discussions are ongoing between officials from my Department and EU institutions regarding this matter. I hope to be in a position to bring proposals to the Government early next year to ensure we meet the deadline well before the end of 2014.

I am sure the Deputy will agree that substantial resources have been made available in preparing for the ending of the derogation whenever that occurs. A total of €11 million has been spent already both on the terminology and training people in the necessary skills. We are also conscious of the importance of having Irish people working at the heart of Europe-----

Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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Yes.

Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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-----in every area, and that includes Irish language related areas.

I thank the Deputy for raising the matter and keeping it alive. I assure him it is very much alive with us.