Bertie in EU Irish push

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern used his final speech to the European Parliament in Strasbourg yesterday to push his bid for Irish to become an official EU language.

Mr Ahern opened his address on the achievements of the Irish EU Presidency in his mother tongue.

“I’m glad to see that some of the members are having some difficulties in getting their Irish language translation,” Mr Ahern quipped as confused members fumbled with their headsets. “When Irish is fully recognised in Europe, we will have one difficulty less,” he added.