Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputies who contributed. My points were in no way a reflection of any decision by the Ceann Comhairle's office or the ruling out of order; I understand fully how that process works and I fully accept it. It was more to do with the fact that because there has been so much dedicated and hands-on work behind the scenes in preparation for bringing the Bill here, between representatives of the deaf community and the Civil Service, there may have been a feeling that anybody else who made suggestions outside that was not to be welcomed. I reiterate the points Deputy Shortall made: our job, as legislators, is to try to improve legislation where we see fit. We, the members of the Joint Committee on Justice and Equality, have been trying to push this and are keen to see it through.

I will not repeat the points. It is self-evident to me. I raised this point when we discussed a report from the Joint Committee on Justice and Equality last year. Public bodies have a duty to provide Irish Sign Language, but the language exists regardless of that duty. That should be recognised as such without being directly linked to a service approach. They are two separate things and they should be two separate sentences; that is all I am seeking to do. They are statements of fact and not superfluous at all. We do not treat other languages in such narrow terms. We do not connect the use of Irish or English with accessing public services. We automatically understand that people have a right to use those languages in their own right. That is all the amendment seeks to do.

As discussed in the Joint Committee on Justice and Equality, the point is to ensure that adequate steps are taken to end the extreme marginalisation of people in the deaf community. That is a responsibility for us in the hearing community who were not necessarily involved in the backroom talks on this. I echo the points made by my colleagues. I think it is a point of fact and can be contained. I do not see what the problem is.

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