"We have had some teething problems, particularly with sourcing fully-trained interpreters, " admitted a spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs, which is overseeing the move with the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.

Five interpreters are doing a graduate course at the University of Westminster in London and these will take up permanent positions in Brussels when they finish later in 2007.

In the meantime, the Deparment ofForeign Affairs has sourced freelance interpreters who translate the live spoken word through headphones at EU parliament and council sessions. The freelances will allow the Irish language to be heard for the first time at the EU council's meeting on 22 January and it is expected there will be a ceremony to mark the occasion.

Translators who translate the written word are not proving as difficult to source, with recruitment "on track", according to the foreign affairs spokesman.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, Gaeltacht minister Eamon O'Cuiv and Minister for European Affairs Noel Treacy will attend a "short" ceremony at Government Buildings tomorrow to mark the occasion.

Under a deal between the EU and Ireland, the Irish government agreed to pay for the sourcing and training of 30 interpreters required by the European Commission in Brussels. The EU tomorrow takes over the cost of Irish language services in Brussels, estimated at 3.5m a year.