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Press release

Ten graduates to be appointed for 2023-24 Internship Scheme in European Union Institutions

The Minister of State for the Gaeltacht, Patrick O’Donovan, has today announced that his department’s Internship Scheme in European Union Institutions is being held again this year. Applications via email will be accepted from Wednesday, 12 April 2023, until 12 midday on Monday, 8 May 2023.

The scheme was launched initially in 2018 and is aimed at providing work placement opportunities for graduates in the specialised areas of translation and proofreading in the Irish language.

Up to ten graduates are to be appointed again this year, commencing their work placement positions from October for a period of ten months. Eight of the graduates will assist in the translation of European Union legislation – primarily the acquis communautaire – during their work placement. The remaining two graduates will be involved in the proofreading of Irish language documents under the supervision of the Publications Office or the European Parliament. An allowance of €2,000 per month will paid to the internees for the entirety of the ten month training period.

In announcing this year’s scheme, Minister of State Patrick O’Donovan said:

“This scheme has proven to be extremely popular since it was established in 2018. It provides people with an opportunity to experience working life in continental Europe, to receive first-class training from the European institutions, and to add to their skills, putting them in a strong position for recruitment competitions in the future. Already quite a few of the interns have secured other jobs in the European institutions following their internship and I’m confident that this year’s cohort will enjoy similar success.”

Further information regarding the scheme is available at: https://www.gov.ie/en/news/ed02d-comortas-dinteirneacht-in-institiuidi-an-aontais-eorpaigh-maoinithe-ag-an-roinn-turasoireachta-cultuir-ealaion-gaeltachta-spoirt-agus-mean/

Completed application forms should be sent to Mairin.NiFhlatharta@tcagsm.gov.ie by midday on Monday, 8 May 2023.


Notes

The Irish language was given status as an official and working language of the EU from 1 January 2007 under Regulation 920/2005. The Regulation included a derogation on the use of the language that was to be reviewed every five years and the first period was to last until 31 December 2011. As a result of the first review, the derogation was extended until 31 December 2016 under Regulation 1257/2010. Under the terms of the derogation which was in place since 2007, it was only necessary to translate EU laws which were made under the co-decision protocol to Irish.

In December 2015, the European Council accepted a regulation aimed at ending the derogation on an incremental basis by the end of 2021. EU Institutions are now providing services through the Irish language at the same level as the other official languages of the EU.