History

The Association was formed in 1986 as The Irish Translators' Association by Ann Bernard, Cormac Ó Cuilleanáin and J.F. Deane and became The Irish Translators' and Interpreters' Association in 2002. The ITIA is the only professional association in Ireland representing the interests of translators and interpreters.

Translator members of the ITIA are involved in all areas of specialisation including literary, legal, medical, technical, commercial and localisation. Our interpreters include conference, court and community interpreters. Our membership also includes translator and interpreter trainers and those with a general interest in the area of language, translation and interpreting.

The business of the ITIA is conducted in accordance with the ITIA Constitution/Bunreacht by the Executive Committee, elected each year in October by the members at the Annual General Meeting. The ITIA has two permanent sub-committees, the Professional Membership sub-committee and the Certification sub-committee, which deal with applications for Professional Membership and Certified Translator status respectively. Where necessary, ad hoc committees are created for individual tasks.

The ITIA has five categories of membership: professional, ordinary, student, corporate and honorary.

Applications for professional membership are approved by the Professional Membership sub-committee in line with strict criteria. Professional Members may also apply to be assessed for 'ITIA Certified Translator' status, which will allow them to provide certified translations to government departments, state institutions and the business community.

Ordinary, student/concession and corporate membership applications are approved by the secretary/membership secretary.

 Honorary Members are elected by the ITIA members at our Annual General Meeting.

The ITIA is a member of the Fédération Internationale des Traducteurs (FIT). The ITIA has three representatives in FIT. Miriam Lee, Professional Member and Executive Committee member of the ITIA, is a current Vice-President of FIT, having been Secretary General from 2002-2005. Michael Friel , Professional Member and Executive Committee member of the ITIA, is current chair of the FIT Committee on Human Rights.  John Kearns , member of the ITIA Executive Committee and guest-editor of the ITIA journal 'Translation Ireland', is a member of the FIT Committee on Translator Training.

The ITIA is a member of CEATL - the Conseil Européen des Associations de Traducteurs Littéraires (European Council of Associations of Literary Translators), where it is represented by Giuliana Zeuli, former ITIA chairperson, Professional Member and member of the Executive Committee of the ITIA. Giuliana is also the ITIA representative on the board of the Ireland Literary Exchange (ILE).

The ITIA publishes a monthly ezine, the ITIA Bulletin and Translation Ireland which is issued twice a year. The ITIA holds its various events and meetings throughout the year at the Irish Writers' Centre, Parnell Square, Dublin 1.

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