The Taoiseach used his final speech to the European Parliament in Strasbourg today to push for the Government's bid for Irish to become an official EU language.
Mr Ahern opened his address on the achievements of the Irish EU Presidency as Gaeilge.
"I'm glad to see that some of the members are having some difficulties in getting their Irish language translation," Ahern quipped as members fumbled with their headsets.
"When Irish is fully recognised in Europe, we will have one difficulty less," he remarked.
The Government is in continual talks with the EU institutions and other national capitals to grant Irish "official language status" to put it on a par with the Union's 20 working languages.
Currently Irish only has the 'Treaty language status' which requires the European treaties to be translated into Ireland 's native tongue but does not provide for interpretation when EU ministers or MEPs hold meetings.
The inclusion in EU activities of new languages such as Latvian and Maltese has fuelled the cause of Irish campaigners.
Irish's current position now ranks it lower in Brussels than the mother tongue of tiny Malta, which has around 400,000 inhabitants.
Ireland 's and Luxembourg's are the only national languages in the EU that do not enjoy official status in the European institutions.