Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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17. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will provide an update on the lifting of the derogation for the Irish language to be recognised as an official language in the European Union; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10015/15]

Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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As previously advised to the House, a decision on whether or not to extend the derogation for the use of Irish in the EU institutions for a further period of time is required by December 2015 at the latest. In that context, my Department, in conjunction with the Department of An Taoiseach, continues to be actively engaged with the EU institutions in order to formulate specific proposals on the optimal approach to the derogation. Clearly, the outcome of that engagement will inform the proposals that will be brought to Government in due course, prior to a final decision being taken on this matter.