Labour Party leader Mr Pat Rabbitte has welcomed the Government's decision to support plans to have Irish recognised as an official language of the EU.
The party put a Private Members Motion before the Dáil last night calling for the Government to use its influence as president of the EU to get Irish accepted as an official language of the Union.
The Taoiseach today said the Government would support the motion when it comes before the Dáil a second time this evening. Mr Rabbitte said the Government must now indicate what steps it plans to take.
"This unanimous endorsement of the Dail considerably strengthens the hand of the government in raising this issue with the EU," the Labour leader said.
The motion was tabled jointly with Fine Gael and the Green Party.