Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am absolutely delighted to be here today to welcome the publication of the Irish Sign Language Recognition Bill report which has been brought to the House under the stewardship of our excellent Chairman, Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin. I would like to thank Senator Mark Daly, Dr. John Bosco Conama from the Trinity College Centre for Deaf Studies, Mr. Eddie Redmond and Ms Lianne Quigley of the Irish Deaf Society and my good friend, Mr. Mícheál Kelliher, who is in the Public Gallery and who has educated me about the situation facing deaf people in Ireland. In fact, one of my outstanding memories of the recent election campaign was when we were out canvassing and a woman answered the door and started signing. She was probably asking what we were going to do for the deaf community and we were able to respond immediately when Mícheál signed back to her. I would say that was a first for that woman in any election campaign. That is the type of experience that deaf people should have as a norm, not as an exceptional circumstance.

I am delighted that we are here. The report commissioned by the joint committee highlights the extreme marginalisation and isolation of members of the deaf community and strongly recommends that we deal with this urgently through legislation. It is shameful that the last Oireachtas did not take the opportunity to recognise Irish Sign Language.

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