Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 8:

In page 4, line 17, to delete “and the corresponding duty” and substitute “which is an indigenous language in its own right used by a sizeable minority in the State and the duty”.

As this is my only amendment that has not been ruled out of order, I will make some points on it and on some of my other amendments. I do not know if somebody has been engaged in mischief over the past number of days or what has been going on in terms of the reaction to me tabling amendments to the Bill. I am not sure who started it or where it started. However, there was a suggestion that some civil servants had a problem with us tabling amendments. I am fully aware of the detailed work that went on behind the scenes through the offices of Senator Mark Daly, representatives of the deaf community and civil servants in preparing the Bill. That is their democratic right. They had a very keen and diligent input into the process. It is our democratic right and responsibility, as Deputies in the House, to use the democratic methods we have to table amendments to improve legislation if we think we can do that. There was never any chance that the tabling of these amendments would scupper or undermine anything or take from the glory of Senator Mark Daly or anybody else. Their purpose was simply to highlight a number of issues we felt needed to be highlighted. I make absolutely no apologies for that.

While recognising the rights of everybody in this process, I acknowledge the rights of everybody outside this process, including the deaf community, who were not at those talks, and the hearing community. This is an issue for everybody. If we are serious about it, we will all take responsibility for it. This amendment is a very simple one dealing with section 3(1) of the Bill which states, "The State recognises the right of Irish Sign Language users to use Irish Sign Language as their native language and the corresponding duty on all public bodies to provide Irish Sign Language...". It is very important that is accommodated but my amendment seeks to recognise that ISL is more than that. It is not just a vehicle for accessing information; it is a vehicle in its own right and cultural recognition needs to be established. Instead of stating "corresponding duty" just for the sake of it, I am suggesting the words "which is an indigenous language in its own right used by a sizeable minority in the State" and the duty would be on all public bodies to provide ISL. It puts it in its important cultural context. That is why we have moved the amendment. This issue is bigger than just access to services.

As my other amendments have been ruled out of order and I will not take time later on, I will mention the suggestion that was made to me by one of the ushers on the way in to the Chamber. There is a very good sign language programme running in Trinity College at the moment and some of my staff have signed up to do the course in the new year. It is very good. One of the ushers suggested that the ushers in the House and Members should be encouraged and funded to take up that course in order to provide the types of services the deaf community deserves. If we are really serious, we will see measures like that coming on.

My other proposed amendments deal with opening up the education system and providing access to the broader hearing community to be involved in sign language. I put that forward as a suggestion now in terms of the operation of the Houses. It is something the Minister of State could take up because it will not be addressed later.

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