Mark Daly (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Yes. We have worked with officials in the Oireachtas to draft this legislation. This Bill has been put together with the assistance of Dr. Conama and others. It covers a wide range of topics, including the recognition of Irish Sign Language and the rights of the members of the deaf community. Dr. Conama referred briefly to access to this Parliament. When Brian Crowley, MEP became a Member of the Seanad, he could not get into the Chamber because there was no wheelchair access. We brought in legislation over time to ensure everyone would be able to access public buildings. We argued that access should not be provided on a case-by-case basis, but should be based on legislation. Similarly, I am proposing in my Bill that members of the deaf community should be given access to services and to the national broadcaster and that service providers should be obliged to provide access in the same way that we now provide access to people with disabilities.

I will give an example of the importance of putting this in legislation. Funding for the advocacy service for members of the deaf community was cut some years ago. I was contacted by people who wanted the matter to be raised in the Dáil Chamber and I asked our Leader to do so. Two hundred members of the deaf community wanted to come into the Public Gallery on the day this was due to happen, but they needed interpreters. We asked the Ceann Comhairle's office to ensure an interpreter was made available and put on the floor of the Dáil, but we were told this could not be done. We were advised that members of the deaf community could go to the audiovisual room, where an interpreter could be provided. These members of the deaf community were unable to go to the Public Gallery like other citizens. When this row became public, the head of communications in the Oireachtas at the time was not pleased that it became public that no interpreter was available. He wanted to meet me and members of the deaf community. We went into a meeting. We sat down and he explained his displeasure and set out the plans for the use of the audiovisual room. After five minutes, I asked why the services of an interpreter were not being provided at a meeting with the head of communications. The other people at the meeting had no idea what he had been saying. It dawned on him that it was a question of citizens of Ireland not being able to access the Parliament of Ireland. As it turned out, interpreters were put into the Dáil Chamber for the benefit of the members of the deaf community who were in the Public Gallery. The advocacy funding was reinstated. That was a clear example of how the hearing community has no concept of how difficult life is for members of the deaf community. Everyone has the right to access a doctor who can interpret what one's symptoms are. If one has to write down what is wrong with one when one goes to the doctor, that is simply not acceptable in life-and-death situations.

My Bill was introduced on two occasions during the last Dáil, but unfortunately it was defeated on both occasions. It was explained to us that we firstly needed to take all the steps in relation to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities by passing that, then all the other bits and pieces would be brought in on a piecemeal basis, and then consideration might be given to recognising Irish Sign Language. We were told there would be no need for recognition at that stage because everything would have been done. That could take decades because there is no obligation on anyone to provide such services. It would be too piecemeal. Some things have been done in certain Departments. In fairness to the former Minister for Social Protection, she put in place a system to ensure interpreters would be made available for members of the deaf community while interacting with her Department. That happened because of her own personal experiences. It is not a wideranging policy across the Government. The Recognition of Irish Sign Language for the Deaf Community Bill 2016 would oblige the Government over time to enable members of the deaf community to be able access Government services, the national broadcaster and others. The Bill has been published and placed on the Seanad Order Paper. We hope it will debated and the Minister will support it. However, he did not outline this as one of his three priorities when he launched the Bill. However, it is a priority for the deaf community. There is a disconnect in this regard. I hope that with the assistance of members, we can push this Bill forward and get it passed during the current Dáil term. We need to understand that it can be difficult for the deaf community to access Government services. Indeed, it is virtually impossible for a member of the deaf community to visit this Parliament to see what is going on here.