In 2005, Foras na Gaeilge commissioned Ipsos MRBI to undertake research into public perceptions of the Irish language in the business sector. The research was conducted in 2005, on an annual basis between 2007 - 2012 and again in 2018. The most recent research was undertaken by Kantar in 2020. The research involved a quantitative approach, with more than 1,500 people each year north and south. All-island surveys were conducted with demographically representative samples. Gender, age, social status and region of participants were recorded and in the six counties, there was an additional category for participants' religion. Social status was recorded in different ways in the jurisdictions; in the north, ABC1, C2 and DE were categories, and in the south were AB, C1, C2 and DE as categories. The same questions were asked year after year to give an insight into trends, trends that are set out in this report.

It is intended that these results and analysis will be used as a referencing tool for the business sector, and that the necessary evidence and statistics will be made available to businesses and private companies. The research provides a wide range of information on marketing in Irish, business through Irish and community priorities. The impact of the economic downturn and the positive or negative coverage of the language can be seen in the research findings. Despite this, it is clear that there is goodwill among the public towards the Irish language and that the Irish language is an advantage in the business sector.

The research can be downloaded and read in it's entirety here.