Eurolang reports that the Irish Government is to “initiate a process of discussions with the other EU Member States and the EU Commission with a view to seeking official and working language status for the Irish language in the EU under EEC Regulation 1/1958.”

Pádraig Ó Laighin, who led the Stádas campaign for full working status told Eurolang:

“More people will speak and use Irish in the future as a result of this decision, and the whole raison d’être for learning the language in school, as a first or second language, has been transformed. No longer will Irish speakers be second-class citizens in their own country. There are no guarantees for the future of any language such as Irish, which is under threat, but this decision restores hope and strengthens self-esteem”.