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The pitch-fork sporting masses have been quick to point the finger at how lavish pay packets are indicative of the elitism inherent in the financial sector, but perhaps they should delve a little deeper into bankers' linguistic abilities.

According to a new paper by academics at the University of Limerick and University of Ulster provocatively titled 'Language and Occupational Status: Linguistic Elitism in the Irish Labour Market', those who speak Gaelic have a considerably better chance of landing a good job.

As the table below shows, a greater proportion of Irish speakers hold 'professional, managerial or technical' jobs, as well as being more educated and having a better chance of owning a lovely detached home.

"Even if you take [socioeconomic] factors into account and have two people of equal status, the Irish-speaker will have a small but significant advantage over the other," says Vani Boorah, one of the report's three authors.

But, it begs the question – does it help you get ahead in banking? The short answer is no, at least not directly. Recruiters tell us that the ability to speak Irish is never considered to be a requirement, or even a benefit, when applying for a role in the financial sector.

However, that's not to say those in senior financial positions don't speak Gaelic. The language is part of the curriculum, which means it's not just restricted to the Gaeltacht areas of the country, or the 185,000 or so estimated to speak it on a daily basis.

"The ability to speak Irish at a high level is essentially an indication of academic prowess," says Paul Cotter, director of financial recruiters Cotter Personnel. "So, the majority of senior people we place have an ability to speak it, as well as other European languages, even if it's not part of the job description."

The education system is one of the reasons put forward by the report, which cites a rapid rise in the number of Irish speaking schools since the 1970s: "These schools have developed good academic reputations. They attract good teachers and a leadership core of committed parents and that attracts a wider circle of families that are drawn by good examination performance."