Preliminary Market Consultation for the provision of Simultaneous Interpretation Services for Ireland’s 2026 Presidency of the Council of the European Union to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Tender description

Ireland will hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union from 1 July to 31 December 2026. During the Presidency, an extensive and wide-ranging programme of approximately 250 meetings, events and conferences will be held in Ireland. These are likely to include both one-day and multi-day events, with attendance numbers ranging from under 50 to over 2,000 participants, including a large proportion of participants travelling to Ireland from other EU Member States. The programme will include official-level meetings, as well as meetings with senior political-level attendees such as informal Council of Ministers meetings and possible Summit-level events. Events will be organised by a wide range of Government Departments and official bodies, with some events incorporating site visits, exhibitions, and ancillary events. The events will take place in a variety of State-owned and private sector venues, in locations to be confirmed, and will in many cases run concurrently. Decisions on meeting venues have not yet been taken, but it is likely that the highest proportion of meetings will take place in the Dublin area, with the remainder taking place in a range of other locations in the country. For a number of these events, simultaneous interpretation needs may arise. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade intends to use the services of the EU Commission’s interpretation service (DG-SCIC) for high-level events such as informal Council of Ministers meetings and Summit-level events. The Department is interested in exploring the capacity of the market to meet additional simultaneous interpretation requirements which may arise for official-level events, meetings and conferences taking place in Ireland during the six-month term of the Presidency. Ireland will hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union from 1 July to 31 December 2026. During the Presidency, an extensive and wide-ranging programme of approximately 250 meetings, events and conferences will be held in Ireland. These are likely to include both one-day and multi-day events, with attendance numbers ranging from under 50 to over 2,000 participants, including a large proportion of participants travelling to Ireland from other EU Member States. The programme will include official-level meetings, as well as meetings with senior political-level attendees such as informal Council of Ministers meetings and possible Summit-level events. Events will be organised by a wide range of Government Departments and official bodies, with some events incorporating site visits, exhibitions, and ancillary events. The events will take place in a variety of State-owned and private sector venues, in locations to be confirmed, and will in many cases run concurrently. Decisions on meeting venues have not yet been taken, but it is likely that the highest proportion of meetings will take place in the Dublin area, with the remainder taking place in a range of other locations in the country. For a number of these events, simultaneous interpretation needs may arise. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade intends to use the services of the EU Commission’s interpretation service (DG-SCIC) for high-level events such as informal Council of Ministers meetings and Summit-level events. The Department is interested in exploring the capacity of the market to meet additional simultaneous interpretation requirements which may arise for official-level events, meetings and conferences taking place in Ireland during the six-month term of the Presidency.