Irish Republican News · July 7, 2004

Ahern fudges on Irish status in EU

The 26-County Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has admitted that his government did not seek full status for the Irish language during its presidency of the European Union.

In answer to a question from Sinn Féin’s Caoimhghin O Caolain, the Taoiseach said that the Government was still studying what form of further recognition for Irish to request from the EU.

Mr O Caolain condemned the admission as “disgraceful”.

“None of the EU member governments that the Taoiseach met repeatedly over the past six months has objected to full status for Irish,” he said.

He claimed the Taoiseach was looking for “some non-existent halfway house” for the language in Europe and ignoring the more “straightforward” procedure to be followed to achieve full working status.

“Full status would be both a practical and a symbolic advance for the Irish language. He should accept the wishes of all parties in the Oireachtas and the overwhelming support for this proposal in the country, and act to make it happen.”

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