EU grants Irish official language status

THE Irish language is set to become the 21st official language of the EU, employing 110 translators at an annual cost of about €10 million.

The move was welcomed by Ireland west MEP Seán Ó Neachtain, the only native Irish speaker in the European Parliament of 732 deputies.

Discussions are due to begin on the details today in Brussels and it is expected that the other member states will give the go-ahead inside the next few months.