THE Irish are the least linguistically gifted group in the European Union, according to a new directory. Fewer than a quarter of Irish politicians and diplomats attached to the EU can make themselves understood in two languages other than English.
The latest edition of The European Companion finds Luxembourgers the most polylingual Europeans, with over 84 per cent claiming to be at least trilingual.
The directory, which bases its findings on an analysis of more than 1,700 EU officials and politicians, ranks the Dutch (73 per cent) and Belgians (69 per cent) second and third in the list, while France (27 per cent) and Britain (28 per cent), come out just ahead of the Irish.
Only three of the MEPs from this island - Ms Mary Banotti of Fine Gael (French and Italian), Mr Pat The Cope Gallagher of Fianna Fail (French and Irish) and Mr John Hume, SDLP (French and Spanish) - have a knowledge of two languages other than English.
From their directory entries, Mr Jim Fitzsimons of Fianna Fail and the North's two other MEPs, the Rev Ian Paisley and Mr Jim Nicholson, would appear to have no knowledge of French, one of the main working languages of the European Parliament.
A spokesman for the Irish mission to the EU acknowledged that Irish linguistic standards may not be up to those in continental Europe but expressed surprise that we rank below Britain.
Mr Paddy Jordan, who runs the European Orientation Programme for IBEC, pointed out that numerous surveys had shown Ireland was linguistically backward.
Mr Jordan claims we have an inferiority complex resulting from the experience of learning Irish in school. "We spend 10 years learning Irish and at the end of this time, we're embarrassed to say anything more than go raibh maith agat."
Ireland also shares with Portugal the worst record for employing women at senior levels in the European Commission, according to the directory. Only 8 per cent of Irish Eurocrats are female, compared to 19 per cent for Danes and Germans.
