Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

This is an historic day which has been a long time coming for the deaf community in Ireland. Míle comhghairdeas to all of those who campaigned for decades to achieve recognition for Irish Sign Language. A special word of thanks must go to Senator Mark Daly for his great work on this issue. I take the opportunity, too, to commend the Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath, on his introduction of the Bill in the Dáil for final approval. Maith sibh uilig to everybody who has played a part in getting us here today. Sinn Féin has long supported the campaign by the Irish Deaf Society and other campaigners for official recognition of ISL. The language is of great importance to members of the community in Ireland, their families and friends. This legislation is incredibly important in terms of the rights and entitlements it affords to citizens who are deaf.

Irish Sign Language is a language of the face, hands and body. It has been in existence for hundreds of years and was developed from within the deaf community in Ireland. It is one of our two indigenous languages, with the other, Gaeilge, being our first official language. ISL is unique to Ireland and differs from sign languages in other countries. There are approximately 5,000 deaf people in Ireland who use ISL daily. In addition, approximately 40,000 hearing people use the language regularly or on occasion. The right to use one's language is a human right. Unfortunately, we in Ireland are accustomed to the mistreatment and lamentable decline of Gaeilge. The failure to give official recognition to ISL before now is another example of the disgraceful treatment of our indigenous languages. Irish Sign Language was formally recognised in the North of Ireland in 2004. The Good Friday Agreement requires equal respect in both jurisdictions for all rights bestowed in either jurisdiction. That equality will finally be in place for the Irish deaf community in this State with the passage of this legislation. While we are on the topic of equality and language rights, I take the opportunity to record our support for those campaigning in the North for an Irish language Act, Acht na Gaeilge.

In October last year, in my capacity as Chairman of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice and Equality, I was honoured to launch a report fully endorsing the formal recognition of ISL. During the course of our hearings on this issue, the committee heard of the extent to which the deaf community experiences exclusion and isolation through the lack of sign language provision. One witness described that experience as one of "extreme marginalisation", extending from the personal level right through to interactions with key organs of State such as the education system, Courts Service, health service and the Oireachtas. Those of us blessed with hearing take for granted the most simple of things like listening to music, hearing our telephones ring, watching television, accessing State services and communicating with our health providers. We all recall the infamous Storm Ophelia, which hit our shores some weeks ago. Those of us with the gift of hearing were provided with 24-hour news coverage of the storm's progress. Every effort was made to keep us informed and safe, but the same consideration was not given to those in the deaf community. It was only when contact was made with the national broadcaster to point out that the service did not cater for the needs of deaf people that an interpreter was finally provided. This is just one recent example of how the deaf community is continually let down. The introduction of statutory targets regarding the accessibility of TV programming, as provided for in the Bill, is very welcome.

In my contribution at the launch of the justice committee's report, I made reference to a very sad chapter in the recent story of the deaf community in Ireland and those most seriously impacted among its number. I dedicated the event, which took place in the Leinster House audiovisual room on 13 October 2016, to the memory of brothers Daniel and William McCarthy whose remains were discovered at their Millrose Estate home in Bluebell in west Dublin just weeks before the report's launch. Their tragic passing exemplified the need for a formal recognition of Irish Sign Language. The message from this Chamber today is that Daniel and William are still in our thoughts.

The passing of this Bill will mean that deaf people in Ireland are finally able to access State services in their own language. It will mean every public body having to devise and implement an action plan to promote the use of sign language within the organisation. It will also permit the use of sign language within the courts. In addition, the Bill advocates for the establishment of an Irish Sign Language council, which would regulate sign language interpreters and teachers. All of these provisions will make a huge difference in the lives of many. The legislation represents a massive step forward and I am delighted to have played my part, however small, in its coming into being.

See this speech in context