Learning German to emigrate

http://www.rte.ie/radio1/today-with-pat-kenny/

This is the interview we listened to in class today.
Why does the broadcaster say that Irish people are terrible at learning languages?
Why should people study German according to the German Ambassador to Ireland?
Is learning German technically difficult or is this a myth?
Can the broadcaster speak German?
How many German speakers are there in the EU and what percentage of the EU population is this?
What advantages are there to learning German other than professional ones?
What advantages are there to doing a degree at a German university?