Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 November 2025
970. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the plans in place to develop national standards and certified qualifications for legal interpreters, in line with the requirements of EU Directive 2010/64/EU, to ensure that all interpreters working in legal settings have a verifiable and consistent level of competency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66228/25]
View answer971. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the engagement his Department has had with the Department of Justice to establish a State-accredited national qualification and training programme for legal interpreters, to ensure that a verified supply of qualified professionals is available for the justice system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66229/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 970 and 971 together.
Irish higher education institutions are autonomous bodies and are entitled to regulate their own academic processes, including the development of new academic programmes. As such, it is not within the Minister's or Department's remit to direct higher education institutions in this regard. However, the tertiary education system is, generally, responsive to emerging skill needs in the labour market, as evidenced by student or learner demand, and employer demand.
I would refer the Deputy to the parliamentary questions answered by the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, on Tuesday, 18 November 2025. The Minister for Justice, Home Affairs, and Migration answered questions 808, 809, 810, 811, 812, 813, 816, 817, 818, 819, 820, 821, 822 in which he outlined the work being undertaken regarding the EU Directive 2010/64/EU.
Directive 2010/64/EU on the right to interpretation and translation has been transposed into Irish law via S.I. No. 565/2013 - European Communities Act 1972 (Interpretation and Translation in Criminal Proceedings) Regulations, 2013 and S.I. No. 564/2013 - European Communities Act 1972 (Interpretation and Translation for Persons in Custody in Garda Síochána Stations) Regulations, 2013.
The manner in which these instruments are implemented in practice is an operational matter for An Garda Síochána and the Courts. The Minister of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration has no role in individual Court proceedings and cannot intervene in operational Garda matters that fall under the Garda Commissioner’s remit.
Management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service, which is independent in exercising its functions under the Courts Service Act 1998 and the Constitution. Operational matters regarding the management of interpreters in court, including payment and training and the introduction and provision of quality assurance processes to assess interpreter performance is a matter for the Courts Service.
