Statement by TUV MLA Timothy Gaston:
“Seldom a day passes in Stormont when the lack of money to fund vital public services does not arise. In spite of this, it is clear that when it comes to some matters the Assembly has a bottomless pit of money to waste.
“One of these area is Irish language, something which is frankly seldom used in the Assembly and when it is it is always employed by those who speak English fluently. However, the Nationalist vanity project of speaking Irish in the Assembly has so far cost over £437,000. Of course it was never the case that anyone was prohibited from speaking in Irish in the Assembly. However, that wasn’t good enough and consequently we now have the ridiculous situation where everyone in a chamber where everyone speaks English is provided with headphones so that they can avail of simultaneous translation.
“Foolishly, some Unionists voted for this system to be introduced with a review after six months. Of course, the six month supposed test period resulted in a massive waste in installing the system and now it is to be permanent.
“Such waste is something Northern Ireland can ill afford.”
Mr Gaston’s questions and the answers received are as follows:
To ask the Assembly Commission to detail the total cost to date of Hansard’s Interpretation and Translation Service.
(AQW 18168/22-27)
On 15 June 2021 the Assembly directed the Assembly Commission: “where there is appropriate demand and subject to review after six months, to provide a simultaneous and passive system for interpretation in the Assembly.”
The Interpretation and Translation Unit (‘the Unit’) has been operational and available to interpret from Irish to English since May 2022. During the period from May 2022 to January 2024, when the Assembly was not carrying out its full programme of normal plenary and committee business, the total cost of the Unit was £287,274.
Following the resumption of normal Assembly business on 3 February 2024, the cost of the Unit to date has been £150,672.
The planned review of the interpretation service was undertaken by the Assembly Commission in October 2024 i.e. six ‘sitting’ months following the resumption of Assembly business in February 2024. On the basis of the established demand for the interpretation of Irish, there were no grounds to justify increasing the level of service, nor was there any scope to reduce the level of service without affecting the ability of those Members who wish to speak Irish to avail of the specific provision set out in ‘New Decade, New Approach’ and cited in the resolution of the Assembly.
Following the October 2024 review of the interpretation service, permanent recruitment to the interpretation roles will commence, and will be based on job descriptions to allow for the appointment of full-time, hybrid English/Irish parliamentary reporters/interpreters. Whilst the primary role of these staff will be to interpret from Irish to English on demand, they will also be available to produce Official Reports in English when interpretation is not required.
In addition, the Unit Room 24 Parliament Buildings Ballymiscaw Stormont Belfast BT4 3XX T: 028 9052 1429 commission@niassembly.gov.uk will support the Assembly Commission in its compliance with the forthcoming standards of best practice relating to the use of the Irish language by public authorities.
To ask the Assembly Commission to detail the hours worked by those employed in Hansard’s Interpretation and Translation Service.
(AQW 18169/22-27)
The standard working week for all staff employed by the Assembly Commission is 37 hours, (excluding meal breaks). Working hours are dictated by the mode of operation of the Assembly.
To ask the Assembly Commission to detail the number of people employed in Hansard’s Interpretation and Translation Service.
(AQW 18170/22-27)
Three members of staff are employed in Hansard’s Interpretation and Translation Service.