Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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139. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if her attention has been drawn to a case (details supplied) in which translation services in court were deemed to be insufficient; if the Courts Service has taken steps to address the deficiency identified; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16566/17]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service which is independent in exercising its functions, which include the provision of information on the courts system.

However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service has informed me that the provision of interpretation services to the courts is an ongoing priority for the Courts Service to facilitate access to justice for those for whom English is not their first language.

I am further informed that the Courts Service has two companies under contract in order to deal with the need for interpreters, the diverse range of languages required and to ensure an appropriate standard of interpretation. The terms of the contract provide that interpreters must be capable of providing an appropriate level of interpretation services to the court. The quality of interpretation services is kept under ongoing review and where any problem arises with the service provided, these are brought to the attention of the companies involved. The Courts Service has also advised me that the case to which the Deputy refers was brought to the attention of the supplier company to address the issues that arose.