Irish language Commissioner receives seal of office

President Mrs Mary McAleese has appointed a Commissioner for the Irish language at a ceremony in Áras an Úachtaráin this afternoon.

Mr Seán Ó Cuirreáin deputy head of RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, was nominated by the Government as An Coimisinéir Teanga (the Language Commissioner).

The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern and the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Mr Éamon Ó Cuív attended the ceremony where Mr Ó Cuirreáin was presented with his seal of office and Minister Ó Cuív welcomed the appointment saying it was an important step in the implementation of the Language Act.

The post was created as part of the Official Languages Act 2003. The main objective of the Act is to provide a wider range of services through Irish, at a higher standard, from the public service.

Oifig Choimisinéir na dTeangacha Oifigiúla was created to supervise and monitor the Act and to ensure that it is implemented. The office of the Commissioner will be located in the Galway Gaeltacht and will cost an estimated €500,000.

The appointment comes as pressure increases on the Government over the status of the Irish language in the EU. Campaigners have called for the recognition of Irish as an official language in the EU something they say will protect the language from increasing pressure.

Three Opposition parties are to table a joint motion before the Dáil today calling for Irish to be recognised as an official language of the European Union.

The motion to be tabled by Fine Gael, Labour and the Green Party will be debated today and tomorrow.

Last week, Fine Gael leader, Mr Enda Kenny said the Government should avail of the "unique opportunity" afforded by Ireland's presidency of the EU to gain official recognition for Irish.

Labour Party leader, Mr Pat Rabbitte said: "If the Dáil passes this motion next week it would considerably strengthen the hand of the government in raising this issue with the EU."

Green Party leader Mr Trevor Sargent said Ireland was the only country, which signed the Treaty of Rome in 1957 and subsequent treaties of Accession, not to have her language officially recognised.