Language Interpreters
Parties to a hearing before the Labour Court can request the services of a language Interpreter, where it is necessary for their effective participation in a hearing.
Appellants, or other necessary hearing participants, can make such a request at the time of submitting their appeal application, using the relevant section of the applicable form, or can make a direct email request to the Court's administration unit.
For its interpretation needs, the Court retains the services of a professional court Interpreter provider.
Interpretation services are arranged and provided by the Court, at the expense of the State, at the request of a person who will need to interact with the Court members, and be heard by the Court, during the course of an appeal hearing.
Interpreters are not provided for observers or for non-participating members of a party's delegation.
While the request for interpretation is made by an appellant, or other hearing participants, the Interpreter is at all times the Court's interpreter, for the purposes of facilitating the Court's understanding of persons who must be heard by the Court in the context of an appeal.
The Court's Interpreter is available to the particular participants primarily during the course of a hearing when Court members are present. Interpreters may assist participants during any break periods in the course of a hearing, but only with the express permission of the chairman of the sitting division of the Court.
Interpreters perform an independent function on behalf of the Court. On the day of the hearing, and prior to its commencement, the presence of the Interpreter is managed and coordinated by the Court Secretary.
Where interpretation of sworn evidence in an employment rights hearing is required, the Court Secretary will administer the 'Interpreters Oath' whereby the Interpreter will swear or affirm that they will faithfully and accurately interpret the evidence for the Court to the best of their knowledge and ability.
Interpreters will not interact with the user participants outside of the hearing and may only take up their position in proximity to a user to interpret for them when requested to do so by the chairman during the hearing.
