Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 October 2014
236. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will provide an update on progress to ensure the ending of the derogation of the status of Irish as an official language of the European Union; if she recognises the potential for job creation associated with this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39529/14]
View answerAs already 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. Following consideration of the matter at a recent meeting of the Cabinet Committee on the Irish Language and the Gaeltacht, my Department, in conjunction with the Department of An Taoiseach, is actively engaging with the EU institutions in regard to potential approaches arising from that consideration. Clearly, the outcome of that engagement with the EU institutions will inform the proposals that will be brought to Government in due course, prior to a final decision being taken on this matter.
As part of the Government’s strategy to ensure that there is sufficient take-up of the jobs available and to ensure that a sufficient number of qualified personnel are available to meet the needs of the EU institutions, 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).
