§ [No. 5]
§ After Clause 13, insert the following new clause:
§ Payment of interpreters in criminal cases (Northern Ireland)
§
".—(1) In the Costs in Criminal Cases Act (Northern Ireland) 1968, after section 5 thereof, there shall be inserted the following section—
Frees of required interpreter.
§ 5A. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Act, where in any criminal proceedings an interpreter is required because of a defendant's lack of English, the expenses properly incurred on his employment shall, in accordance with rules made pursuant to section 7, be defrayed by the Ministry.".
§ (2) Where in any of the following proceedings, that is to say—
- (a) any proceedings on an appeal to the Court of Criminal Appeal in Northern Ireland, or preliminary or incidental to such an appeal;
- (b) any proceedings before a divisional court of the Queen's Bench Division of the High Court of Justice in Northern Ireland in a criminal cause or matter;
- (c) any proceedings on appeal to the House of Lords from a decision in proceedings within (a) or (b) above or an application for leave to appeal from such a decision;
§ In this subsection "defendant" means the person (whether convicted or not) who is alleged to be guilty of an offence.
§ (3) For the purposes of section 6 of the Government of Ireland Act 1920 this section shall, so far as it relates to matters within the powers of the Parliament of Northern Ireland, be deemed to have been passed before the appointed day within the meaning of that section."
803§ THE LORD CHANCELLORI beg to move that this House doth agree with the Commons in their Amendment No. 5.
§ Moved, That this House doth agree with the Commons in the said Amendment.—(The Lord Chancellor.)
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.