Ms Denise Dowling:

I am Denise Dowling and I am deaf. Irish Sign Language is my first language. I am a teacher of Alain and John in Bishopstown community school, Cork, where I teach home economics, social education and ISL. All students in our school, whether they are deaf or not, partake in classes in ISL. I also teach ISL to families with children who are deaf or hard of hearing and night classes to the general public.

Today, I stand united with Alain and members of the deaf community in Ireland. I wholeheartedly support Alain's request for an ISL interpretation of the national anthem. My own personal experience informs my submission today. At sporting matches, weddings and other events I have attended I often feel embarrassed and ashamed when I do not sing along to the national anthem. I cannot participate in the national anthem as I do not follow it and cannot hear it well. I never learned Irish as I was exempt from the subject in school. I have never learned the words of the national anthem and neither have most of my deaf students.

Recently in school when the Lord Mayor requested that the whole school would sing the national anthem, the music teacher gave every class a sheet to rehearse and prepare for the performance during his visit. As a teacher, I felt very bad in the classroom in front of my deaf and hard of hearing students for not being able to prepare them for this song. We looked on YouTube and discovered that there is no official Irish Sign Language version of the national anthem. However, we watched the American national anthem signed in their official language and could not help but feel envious and frustrated that Ireland does not have its own signed version.

As a teacher of the deaf, I am always trying to find ways for my students to access and participate fully in the everyday hearing world. I encourage my students to overcome challenges and I actively promote advocacy. I do not want my students to be limited in any way by being deaf. I want them to have full lives and reach their full potential. It is my job and our joint responsibility to ensure that they can do that. I am really proud to be here with members of my school community, which includes students, teachers, parents and the principal in the Gallery. I am so proud of Alain and John for making their submission and their strong advocacy for members of our school community.

I thank members for inviting us here today and empowering us as citizens of Ireland. I urge members to please take the next step and ensure that there is an Irish Sign Language interpretation of the national anthem in the near future so that all deaf and hearing people will have access to it. If my school, students or teachers can support the committee in this endeavour we would be happy to do so. I thank committee members for working with us as citizens of Ireland.