The Labour Party is to table legislation in the Dáil aimed at removing the compulsory Irish exam for lawyers and replacing it with a voluntary system of recognising competence in the Irish language.
The party's spokesman on the Irish language, Brian O'Shea, said the absolute requirement of Irish for all lawyers is now an anachronism, especially given the rapidly changing nature of Irish society.
"It is high time that this out-dated examination was consigned to the dustbin of history," he said.
"It reflects the zealotry of a by-gone age, rather than the needs of an inclusive, pluralist Ireland and the needs of a modern and competitive legal system."
Under the Legal Practitioners (Qualifications) Act (1929), no person shall be admitted to practise as a barrister-at-law unless the Chief Justice is satisfied that he or she "possesses a competent knowledge of the Irish language".
A similar requirement is placed on those wishing to practise as a solicitor by Section 40 of the Solicitors Act of 1954.
"In practice those wishing to practice as barristers have been required to take an Irish examination. Those unable to pass the examination or unwilling to take it, cannot practise at the bar. Otherwise well-qualified lawyers have found themselves unable to practise," Mr O'Shea said.
He said Labour's Private Members' Bill would seek to move away from the concept of a compulsory minimum standard and would instead require the King's Inn and the Law Society to offer a voluntary examination in the Irish language and then issue a certificate of competency to successful candidates.
