Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Question 84: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position regarding negotiations with the European Commission to make Irish an official language of the EU, in view of his commitment to make early progress on the matter; the types of issue that are arising in the ongoing negotiations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7710/05]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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On 24 November last, the Government tabled a formal proposal in Brussels requesting that official and working status in the EU be accorded to the Irish language. On 13 December, I outlined to my counterparts at the General Affairs and External Relations Council the reasons for Ireland's request. In summary, the Government has proposed, in the context of official and working status being accorded to the Irish language, that certain key EU legislation — that adopted jointly by the Council and the European Parliament — would be translated into Irish. The Government's proposal also allows for the possibility, in the context of a review to take place not later than four years after the adoption of the proposal, of extending the range of documents to be translated into Irish.

The amendment of Regulation 1 of 1958, which governs the Union's language regime, is necessary if Irish is to be accorded official and working status in the EU. Such an amendment requires the unanimous approval of member states.

There is, I believe, a general understanding of our desire to see an enhanced status for the Irish language in the EU. Ireland has been discussing a number of aspects with other interested parties — the member states and EU institutions. The language regime, of course, is always a sensitive and complex matter with potential political and resource implications which we need to bear in mind as we proceed.

Building on these bilateral discussions, we look forward to the matter being considered by the committee of permanent representatives in the coming days. The Government will continue to work intensively to make early progress and to reach the desired outcome on this issue, which has the support of all parties in the House.