Sean Kyne TD, Minister for Gaeltacht Affairs, said the announcement demonstrates practical reasons for people to study Irish. “Often, school students have felt there were only very limited careers arising out of Irish language studies. This is a wonderful opportunity to pursue a rewarding international career and to raise the profile of our national language across Europe.”

Mr Rytis Martikonis, Director General of Translation at the European Commission, encourages Irish linguists to apply for these jobs: “It's a stimulating time for the Irish-speaking community. The EU institutions are fully committed and will work in close partnership with Ireland in meeting the challenges ahead. These positions represent great professional and personal opportunities and I urge you all to apply and participate actively in the competition.”

Applications can be made via the recruitment website www.jobs.eu-careers.eu. The competition is open to university graduates, including those graduating this summer, with an excellent command of Irish and a thorough knowledge of at least two other official EU languages including English, French or German. The salary scale for the positions starts at €4,384 per month. Successful candidates may also qualify for additional allowances depending on their personal circumstances.