Madam, - In its letter of December 17th, the Irish Refugee Council expresses a hope that the precedent set by the HSE in including a proposed national interpretation service in its new intercultural health strategy will be followed in the asylum system.
The Legal Aid Board's Refugee Legal Service (RLS) provides legal services at all stages of the asylum process for people seeking asylum in Ireland.
An important part of this service is the provision of interpretation for all clients who require it at client consultations - and this has been the case since the service was established in 1999. The board recognises the importance of accurate interpretation at all stages of the asylum process and the RLS has put procedures in place to ensure that the interpretation services provided to our clients meet the required quality standards. - Yours, etc,
Feargal Ó Brolcháin, Director of Corporate Affairs, Legal Aid Board, North Brunswick Street, Smithfield, Dublin 7.