Gaeilge to become a full working language of the European Union

More than 700 people will be trained in translating EU documents into Irish over the next five years as the language becomes a full working one for the union.

The move, that will see thousands of pages translated every year, will create around 180 full-time jobs that should pay over €100,000 a year.

The development has been welcomed by Liadh Ní Riada, the Sinn Féin MEP who last year doubled the amount of Irish used in the European Parliament.