Career opportunities in Irish must be grasped – de Brún

31 December, 2007

After one full year of Irish being an official and a working language of the EU, the demand for Irish translation is much higher than the EU institutions anticipated said Bairbre de Brún MEP today.

Speaking as Irish enters its second year as an official EU language, Ms de Brún said:

“After one full year of Irish being an official and a working language of the EU, the demand for Irish translation and interpretation is much higher than the EU institutions anticipated. The EU institutions have already recruited further interpreters and more translators are also needed.

“EPSO - the European Personnel Selection Office - will need to recruit further translators for the European Parliament, Commission and Council. At the moment the recruitment process is open for the specialised post of lawyer-linguists, with the deadline for applications on 9 January 2008. Further details for these posts are available on the EPSO website www.europa.eu/epso.

“Other opportunities will open soon for Irish translators and interpreters. As well as having fluent Irish and the appropriate translation qualifications, applicants will need a good knowledge of the EU and EU institutions and those seeking to apply would be advised to make contact in advance with those who have already gone through the selection process for translators and interpreters.

Addressing herself to the Executive and the careers guidance service, Ms de Brún said:

“Demand for translators and interpreters in the European Parliament will continue to grow in the coming years and the Executive, the academic institutions and schools careers guidance teachers all need to be poised to make the most of the opportunities that arise. We need to ensure that those choosing courses in the coming months and years are aware of these opportunities and of the career path towards achieving them.” Críoch

Note to editor

For the post of lawyer linguist, applicants need a postgraduate qualification in law or to have qualified as a barrister, advocate or solicitor in Ireland or Britain. They will also need a perfect knowledge of Irish, a thorough knowledge of English and a very good knowledge of French, German, Italian or Spanish. Further details from www.europa.eu