Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 January 2014
392. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Ireland is exempt from an obligation to translate European documents into Irish; the reason this is the case; if he will consider lifting that exemption in order to provide ample employment opportunities to those Irish language translators who are struggling to find work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2412/14]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that 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 5 years from 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2011 (Regulation No. 920/2005). This was extended for another 5 years from 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2016 (Regulation No. 1257/2010). This is a derogation for the EU institutions from the obligation 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.
A decision on whether or not to seek an extension of the derogation regarding the use of Irish in EU institutions for a further period of time is required by December 2015 at the latest. My Department is actively engaged in discussions with various stakeholders, including the EU institutions, in order to formulate specific proposals in this regard and it is hoped to bring the matter forward for consideration by Government in the coming months.
As part of the Government's strategy to ensure that a sufficient number of qualified personnel are available to meet the needs arising from the recognition of Irish as an official and working language of the EU, my Department continues to provide substantial funding for a range of specialised third-level courses and for the development of Irish language terminology for the EU terminology database, InterActive Terminology for Europe (IATE).
