Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 December 2025
567. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the reason there are requirements in law in relation to the competence of those providing Irish Sign Language interpretation for courts and public bodies but no such requirements in law in relation to the provision of other interpretation and translation in legal proceedings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73680/25]
View answerI am pleased to be able to inform the Deputy that there are requirements in law in relation to the quality of interpretation and translation in legal proceedings.
The right to fair procedures is a central tenet of our criminal justice system. Ireland opted in to the EU Directive on the right to interpretation and translation in criminal proceedings - eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex:32010L0064 - and it was subsequently transposed into Irish law. This was done via two Statutory Instruments, one relating to Interpretation and Translation in Criminal Proceedings - www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2013/si/565/made/en/print, which relates to the arrangements to be put in place by the Courts Service in respect of the conduct of court proceedings and the second which relates to Interpretation and Translation for Persons in Custody in Garda stations - /www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2013/si/564/made/en/print.
Article 5 of the Directive requires Member States to take ‘concrete measures’ to ensure the quality of the interpretation and translation services. Both of the SI’s include provisions regarding the quality of interpretation.
The manner in which these instruments are implemented in practice is an operational matter for An Garda Síochána and the Courts. The Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. I cannot intervene in operational Garda matters, which fall under the Garda Commissioner’s remit, including the processes by which translation and interpretation services are provided. Management of the courts and operational matters, including the management of interpretation services, are the responsibility of the Courts Service, which is independent in the exercising of its functions under the Courts Service Act 1998 and given the separation of powers in the Constitution.
The Irish Sign Language Act 2017, which provides for Irish Sign Language requirements for courts, falls under the remit of the Minster for Children, Disability and Equality.
