Dublin bids to gain full status for Irish language

Date: 25/11/04

THE Irish government has submitted a formal request for Irish to be recognized as an official working language of the European Union.

The request, presented to EU ambassadors on Wednesday (24 November), seeks an amendment to the 1958 regulation on languages used in the EU institutions.

At present Irish is only a treaty language: EU treaties are translated into Irish and citizens writing to the EU in Irish can expect a reply in Irish.

But the government in Dublin now wants to put Irish on an equal footing with the 20 official languages of the EU.

Ireland has though restrained its demands on the EU's translation and interpretation services.

When Malta joined the EU, because of a shortage of translators it was agreed that for a three-year period, not all EU documents would have to be translated into Maltese.

Ireland is similarly suggesting that for a four-year period only legislative acts agreed by co-decision, by both the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers, should be translated into Irish. There would be a review after four years.

A change in the language regulation requires unanimous support from the EU states.

Spain is expected to submit a request next month for Catalan, Basque, Gallego and Valenciano to be given matching status.

The Irish government submitted a formal request on 24 November 2004 for Irish to be recognized as an official working language of the European Union, seeking an amendment to the 1958 regulation on languages used in the EU institutions.

• Primary Source

SIL international: Ethnologue.com: Countries: Ireland http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=Ireland

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