Ireland's ability to compete internationally is being damaged by the lack of a coherent strategy on the teaching and learning of foreign languages, according to a report by the Royal Irish Academy.
The RIA says a policy on languages in education needs to be developed and funded as a matter of urgency.
Ireland is the only European Union country, apart from Scotland, where learning a foreign language in school is not compulsory.
Ireland also has the highest proportion of citizens in the EU (66%) who say they do not know any other language apart from their mother tongue.
The report calls for a clear framework for language education in Ireland, starting at primary school.
It says resources must be provided, as a matter of urgency, for implementation of this framework.
It also says it is critical that modern languages be treated as a priority subject at third level.
The report says it is no longer good enough to think, as many people do, that when it comes to languages "English is enough".
