Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Since the motion was discussed on 28 November last year, there was a significant meeting which some of the people who were present found inspirational in terms of working through the issues to try to chart a way forward for the future of Irish Sign Language. It is easy to put forward a legislative measure and expect people to come back with amendments but I understand that some of my colleagues had so many amendments, a new Bill would have been required.

With no disrespect to anybody, because I would not question anybody's motives in this regard and certainly not those of Senators Daly or Ó Murchú, who have the height of integrity in this area, what is preferable and far more constructive is what the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, committed to in the House when she was responding to my motion, namely, that there would be significant engagement and consultation to ensure that we get it right. That commenced with a meeting on 14 November in Deaf Village Ireland. I am not sure what happened at that meeting as I was not there, but it was followed on 28 November by another meeting which was facilitated by the NDA, the agency charged with many disability issues in this country. What we want is to put something in place that is workable and makes a real difference to people's lives. Legislation is one thing, but processes and practices that work are far better.

I have utter faith in the Minister of State, Deputy Lynch. She is sincere in how she goes about her business. She wants to create change, which is clearly evident in many of the other initiatives she has been engaged in since becoming Minister with responsibility for mental health and other areas of disability. She ensured that Irish Sign Language was committed to in the programme for Government. Knowing the Minister as I do, and as I hope others do, she will be anxious that this is delivered. However, it must be done properly and effectively. It must be channelled in a way that will make a real difference to people's lives. That is what I want, and I sincerely hope it is what others want.

The motion I mentioned was debated only three or four months ago in the House, and we are now discussing this issue again. In that time, however, there has already been action. The positive aspect of today's proceedings, as was the case previously, is the increased public awareness of Irish Sign Language during this Oireachtas term. I am disappointed that the issue has not been brought forward in the Dáil Chamber by some of our colleagues there, and I urge them to start this discussion in Dáil Éireann as well. It would be very useful if a motion similar to the one we discussed here some months ago was tabled in the Dáil. Again, it would provide another two-hour period for debate and deliberation on this issue. That would be a step forward. I expressed that hope when discussing my motion but it has not yet happened, so let us hope it does.

I look forward to hearing the response of the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, to what has been said in the Chamber and to hearing about what followed the debate on the unanimously agreed motion in this House. In unanimously agreeing that motion, we also agreed to support the Minister in terms of her solution or pathway to resolving this. Again, I am somewhat perplexed that we are here. The Government will not be in a position to support the Bill as drafted but it is very supportive of its spirit, as we all are. There will be significantly brighter days ahead for this issue. It is now firmly in the public arena, is subject to public debate and is certainly on the political agenda.