Sir, - I would like to endorse the comments by Kathleen O'Reilly (October 9th), on the use (or non-use) of Irish in the courts. Non-English speakers who appear in court as defendants or witnesses face similar problems.
According to Mandate 1 of the Courts Service Strategic Plan 2000-2003, one of its aims is to "ensure that an adequate number of staff are competent in the Irish language so as to allow for service to be provided in Irish as well as in English. Account also to be taken of those whose first language is neither English nor Irish".
If the Courts Service is serious about improving the situation of languages other than English, it could begin by establishing training courses in court interpreting. It could make audio recordings of all interpreted cases in order to allow for verification of the standard of interpretation.
It could test all prospective interpreters in order to assess their knowledge of languages, interpreting ability, knowledge of legal terminology and of ethical issues. None of this is happening at present. - Yours, etc.,
Mary Phelan, School of Applied Language and Intercultural Studies, Dublin City University, Dublin 9.