Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 November 2025
808. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the oversight mechanisms in place to ensure interpreters engaged by the Courts Service meet minimum professional standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63745/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra809. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if disciplinary, audit or quality assurance procedures exist for interpreters who provide services in criminal trials and, if not, the reason; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63748/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra810. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if there are plans to introduce State-accredited training and certification for legal interpreters in Ireland, similar to other EU countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63749/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra811. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if his Department intends to establish a central register of qualified legal interpreters and translators, as envisaged under Directive 2010/64/EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63750/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra812. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if there is any requirement at present for interpreters working in court rooms to pass language competency or legal terminology examinations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63751/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra813. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the quality assurance processes that currently exist to assess interpreters’ performance in courtrooms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63752/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra816. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the current rates of pay for court interpreters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63763/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra817. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he has received submissions from an organisation (details supplied) regarding pay and training for court interpreters; the action he has taken in response; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63764/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra818. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the way in which Directive 2010/64/EU is currently implemented in practice to ensure the right to interpretation and translation in criminal proceedings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63766/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra819. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he is satisfied that Ireland is compliant with its obligations under EU Directive 2010/64/EU, given the absence of a State register and formal testing for interpreters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63767/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra820. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the steps his Department is taking to ensure every defendant in Ireland can effectively exercise their right to a fair trial under Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights when interpretation is required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63768/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra821. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the actions which will be taken to restore public confidence in the integrity of criminal proceedings following revelations about interpreter standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63769/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra822. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if his Department will publish data on the number of cases in which interpretation was used in the courts since 2020, by language, jurisdiction, and interpreter accreditation, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63772/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 808, 809, 810, 811, 812, 813, 816, 817, 818, 819, 820, 821 and 822 together.
The right to fair procedures is a central tenet of our criminal justice system. 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. As the Deputy will appreciate, as Minister, I have no role in individual Court proceedings and nor can I 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.
In regard to question 817, I can confirm that my office has not received submissions from the association referred to by the Deputy. In relation to the data sought by the Deputy regarding question numbers 808, 812, 816, and 822, I have referred those questions to the Courts Service for direct reply.
