James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)

The Minister of State's reply is completely unsatisfactory. It is completely unacceptable that in 2008 we are dependent on volunteers and volunteer staff members to be available, on a haphazard basis, to assist in interpreting for people with hearing difficulties. Surely there are not so many hospitals that we cannot appoint to them properly accredited people to act as interpreters. The services of such interpreters could be shared among hospitals. Surely we should have properly appointed officers in place and we should not be dependent on volunteers or the goodwill of staff.

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