The programme for Seachtain na Gaeilge includes the initiative.

Interpreters were on hand for members and officials who did not speak Irish, just to make sure there were no slips into English.

As part of Seachtain na Gaeilge, Fine Gael Councillor Naoise Ó Muirí applauded the idea and proposed making the meeting run fully in Gaeilge an annual event.

The evening's meeting covered the disturbances that occurred in the city centre in November, and the council members received the most recent report from the Dublin Joint Policing Committee.

While there is still a deficiency of gardaí on the streets and crime needs to be addressed, Sinn Féin Councillor Mícheál Mac Donncha stated that the problem is not limited to the O'Connell Street area.

Other social issues were on the agenda, and Fianna Fáil Councillor Deirdre Heaney made a motion about the potential of the council buying unoccupied homes in her neighbourhood of Killester/Donaghmede, as well as the private sale of vacant dwellings.

The traffic and transport plan was discussed during this evening's meeting, which coincided with the continuation of An Bord Pleanála's oral hearing about the proposed Metrolink in the Gresham Hotel.

Later this year, Dublin City Council plans to launch more language-promotion programmes, such as Gaeilge 365 and Lá Mór na Gaeilge.