Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin
Question:241 Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason a company (details supplied) was removed from the register of court interpreters. [10885/99]
Written Answers. - Court Staff.
In May 1998, my Department compiled a list of interpreters, both individuals and companies, who had previously provided interpreting services to the courts and were willing to continue to provide such services, and requested court offices to select companies from the list when engaging interpreting services for a court subsequently. My Department's intention in compiling the list was to introduce more efficiency in the provision of interpreting services to the courts as the service had been provided on an entirely ad hoc basis up to May 1998.
When my Department notified individuals or companies of their inclusion on the list, they were informed that such inclusion did not "confer any right to employment which is subject to the requirements of the courts" and that "an individual or company may be removed from the register if the Minister deems fit and such a removal is notified in writing".
With regard to the company referred to by the Deputy, my Department received information which indicated that it would not be appropriate for that company to provide an interpreting service for an Irish court of law. On this basis, and in accordance with the provisions set down by my Department for inclusion on the list of interpreters, my Department notified the company referred to in the question, in writing, of its removal from the list with effect from 23 March 1999.