Seán Kelly, MEP for Ireland South and Leader of Fine Gael in the European Parliament, has called for urgent solutions to the significant shortfalls in Irish interpretation and translation services within the European Parliament.
Addressing European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, Kelly, a fluent Irish speaker, emphasised the critical need for coordinated efforts to ensure the Irish language receives the same treatment as other official EU languages.
“The recent extension of derogations for Irish interpretation and translation services highlight a pressing issue that necessitates a new course of action,” Kelly stated. “It’s very important that we take concrete steps to rectify disparities and promote the use of the Irish language within EU institutions. The language is experiencing a revival, which I am delighted about, but we are missing out on hiring talented people by not having appropriate recruitment procedure or strategy”, Kelly said.
Kelly outlined several key proposals aimed at addressing these issues: “Currently, the European Parliament have Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with the University of Galway. However, to create a more robust pipeline of qualified interpreters and translators, we need to explore additional MoUs with other academic institutions. This is the first step in my view, but we need to have willingness in Universities in Ireland
“Secondly, Irish speakers who live in Northern Ireland, but hold Irish passports, face significant ambiguity in recruitment processes. We must establish clear guidelines to facilitate their entry into EU roles. The reality is we are missing an untapped resource when it comes to Irish speakers, if we want to elevate the language then we need to adjust existing recruitment structures,” Kelly said.
He also proposed considering an MoU with Queen’s University in Belfast to leverage another significant resource of Irish language talent.
“In addition, the European Parliament Liaison Office in Ireland should organise targeted recruitment drives in Gaeltacht regions. Providing information to secondary school students early in their academic journey is crucial. Engaging with students already enrolled in official courses is often too late to influence their career paths,” Kelly pointed out.
“Lastly, expanding remote working opportunities will significantly enhance the availability of Irish-speaking personnel. This flexibility can attract a wider pool of candidates who may be unable or unwilling to relocate, thus bolstering our language services capacity,” Kelly noted.
Kelly stressed that these proposals will benefit not only the European Parliament but also Ireland’s commitment to promoting the Irish language. “By reforming these structures and taking a different tact, we can ensure that Irish is treated equally to other official EU languages and that Irish citizens can fully participate in the EU’s democratic processes in their native language,” he said.
“The European Parliament has demonstrated its commitment to multilingualism, but it is imperative that we address the current shortfall in Irish language services with urgency and dedication. I look forward to the support and collaboration of both the European Parliament and the Irish authorities in this important endeavour,” MEP Kelly concluded.