We need to speak customers’ language

Sir — It seems that Ireland is finally waking up to the fact that polyglots are in short supply here (Wayne O’Connor and John Walshe, Sunday Independent, January 27). It’s a pity that it took the advent of Brexit to bring this fact home.

The whole world doesn’t speak English. Accept it. The IDA is continually trying to get multinationals to move to Ireland. One of its arguments is that we have the multilingual talent. We don’t. We have to import it. It costs us over €1,000 per person in relocation allowance for candidates who may stay here six months and then return home, and the whole foreign recruitment process has to start again.

Make no mistake, when Brexit kicks in, it won’t be “grand”, as many companies seem to think. The pound will sink, Irish goods will become too expensive and, if there is a “no-deal” UK exit, then trade tariffs will exacerbate the situation even further.

Irish exporters will have to look elsewhere. They will have to persuade continental Europe, the Middle East and China to buy products. Speaking the customer’s language will go a long way towards convincing clients that you are a contender for their business. Forcing them to speak your language will make for a much stiffer, arms-length and sporadic relationship. Customers may not understand everything, they will be more sceptical towards signing English language contracts and will not feel as comfortable, loquacious or open as they would when dealing in their own language.

I work for a multinational firm in Dublin. I am the only non-indigenous employee dealing with foreign markets. My clients are impressed, they are beguiled and they are very open to doing business with me. Who will join me?

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