Courts Service
Dail Éireann — 2026-01-27
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Matt Carthy (SF), Cavan-Monaghan

The Minister referenced a 2021 case. The Court of Appeal found "serious, and potentially far-reaching, inaccuracies" in that case. The interpreter in that case had assisted in more than 240 other cases that had been before the courts. After that judgment the interpreter continued to work in that role for another 40 cases. I find it hard to believe the Minister does not accept this case highlights that having no regulation - no competency tests - in respect of interpretation can potentially undermine our justice system. It is not just about the right to a fair trial and to have an interpreter, which is important, but it is also about the very real potential that a failing in this regard could result in an actual criminal managing to overturn a conviction. In a note from the Courts Service to the justice committee on this issue, the head of that service stated the court or any party to the case can request that the interpreter be replaced, but does the Minister accept the problem is that the person before the courts or their representative might not be in a position to identify the problem with the interpretation they are receiving? I take it the Minister is saying he has full confidence in the system as it stands.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-01-27/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-09-14T01:01:01+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-01-27