In order for the necessary progress to be made in terms of protections and accessibility for people with disabilities, a vital sector of the justice system to be invested in is the provision of interpreters and intermediary services. Article 13 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities establishes that member states must guarantee access to justice that is both equal and implemented through the provision of proper accommodations.208 The National Disability Association believes that a ‘registered intermediaries scheme’ would be essential to carrying out the purposes of Article 13.209 Although the Criminal Evidence Act 1992,210 and the Criminal Justice Act 2017,211 have set out the provision of intermediary services, there has yet to be any definitive legislation or policy enacted to solidify this measure. Both intermediaries and interpreters are an integral part of the accessibility and judicial process as these are trained professionals with the required skills to assist in communication and clarify any procedural barriers. Their services would enhance and enable communication from the investigative report stage to the criminal trial process, thus resolving many of the previously raised concerns and challenges for people with disabilities in the justice system.212 Therefore, if the government prioritized establishing a scheme for these services, allowing all victims, suspects and witnesses to avail of these supports, the difficulties and injustices that continue to arise would certainly be partially addressed and this would further facilitate better access to justice in all stages of the criminal justice process. II.
The Irish Prison Service
208
National Authority and National Authority, 'NDA Independent Advice Paper On The Use Of Intermediaries In The Irish Justice System | The National Disability Authority' (Nda.ie, 2020) <https://nda.ie/publications/justice-and-safeguarding/access-to-justice/nda-independent-advice-paper-on-theuse-of-intermediaries-in-the-irish-justice-system.html> accessed 21 November 2021. 209 National Authority and National Authority, 'NDA Independent Advice Paper On The Use Of Intermediaries In The Irish Justice System | The National Disability Authority' (Nda.ie, 2020) <https://nda.ie/publications/justice-and-safeguarding/access-to-justice/nda-independent-advice-paper-on-theuse-of-intermediaries-in-the-irish-justice-system.html> accessed 21 November 2021. 210 Criminal Evidence Act 1992, s 14. 211 Criminal Justice (Victims of Crime) Act 2017. 212 National Authority and National Authority, 'NDA Independent Advice Paper On The Use Of Intermediaries In The Irish Justice System | The National Disability Authority' (Nda.ie, 2020) <https://nda.ie/publications/justice-and-safeguarding/access-to-justice/nda-independent-advice-paper-on-theuse-of-intermediaries-in-the-irish-justice-system.html> accessed 21 November 2021.
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