Children request Irish be made an official EU language

Niadh Ní Chasaide outside European Commission offices in Dublin with children delivering a Christmas card to Romano Prodi requesting that Irish be made an official EU language

Children from Gaelscoil Lios na nÓg, Ranelagh, Gaelscoil Chabrach, Cabra and Ráth Cairn in the Co Meath Gaeltacht, made an early request from Santa on Friday 19 December outside the EU Commission offices in Dawson Street, Dublin, with a giant card calling for the recognition of Irish as an official EU language.

Following the expansion in May, the EU shall have 20 official languages including minority languages such as Slovene and Maltese (which similar to Irish has c.380,000 speakers) but there are as yet no plans to include Irish.

This means that:

• EU law, which is enforced directly in our courts, will not be available in Irish;

• All employment opportunities with the EU require a knowledge of at least two official EU languages: but Irish people are disadvantaged as we can't count Irish — whether as a mother tongue or as a second, third or fourth language.

• Although we will contribute to the EU Translation Budget (€2 per European citizen per year) we won't have the benefit of essential EU documents in Irish nor employment for Irish translators.

Ireland is the only member state whose national language isn't an official EU language and the Irish Government has only to ask that Irish now be included.