Government urged to act on shortage of interpreters

THE Government must act to redress the shortage of qualified interpreters which is reducing the quality of services available to immigrants in courts and hospitals, academics warned yesterday.

In a report calling for a national languages strategy, the Royal Irish Academy (RIA) suggested that a system of accreditation for interpreters was a crucial factor in Ireland’s growing multiculturalism.

The body promotes study and excellence in the humanities and sciences, and its 360 members are elected in recognition of academic achievement.

“The shortage of qualified interpreters in our hospitals and courts is one of the biggest barriers to quality healthcare and provision of justice in Ireland,” said Professor Pól Ó Dochartaigh, chair of the RIA committee for modern language, literary and cultural studies.

“Ireland has serious issues concerning the lack of qualified interpreters in courts and hospitals that need to be addressed as a matter of urgency.”