Sean Barrett (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Aontaím leis an Seanadóir Ó Dálaigh agus an Seanadóir Ó Murchú. Is duine an-mhaith í an tAire Stáit, an Teachta Caitlín Ní Loinsigh, atá i láthair anseo. Cuirim fáilte roimh na daoine atá sa Ghailearaí, go mórmhór na daoine ó Choláiste na Tríonóide. Tá sé mar cheart ag gach duine a chás a phlé sa Pharlaimint. Mar sin, tá an Seanad ag plé an Bhille atá romhainn inniu. The Bill is very important, and I agree with what Senators Conway, Ó Murchú and Daly have said. The Minister of State is one of the kindest of the people who visit this House and she is most welcome. On every occasion that she has visited the House we have learned something. That is most valuable.

The Bill is important. We need courts that can cater for all citizens. I visited the Canadian Parliament some time ago and the facility with which people changed from French to English and interchanged the two languages was most impressive. That is because it wished to include the speakers of the two founding languages of Canada in the parliamentary debate.

Translators are also present and head phones are provided at European Union committees.

This House needs to hear from the Irish Sign Language community. It is wonderful, therefore, to have two signers with us today. As Senator Ó Murchú noted, we have not been involved in the dialogue with this group. I am delighted we are joining in at this point.

What Parliament does is important. This is especially in the Seanad where Members are seated much closer together than in the much larger Dáil Chamber. Signing, for example, would be much harder in the case of the Dáil, as Senator Conway hinted, because one is in the Gallery. Senators can meet people before they come in to the Chamber and have close contacts with the Irish Sign Language community, which is most welcome. Parliament has a role to play in this regard because it is the place to which people from all strands of society come to discuss the great issues of the day. Representatives of the Irish Sign Language community have been overlooked and are visiting the House today only for the second time. It is important that we treat them kindly and favourably at all times. This should not depend on having a nice Minister or a particular group of facilitative public servants, as so many of them are. People with hearing difficulties must have their rights enshrined in law as it is the law that the courts will interpret. Nice sentiments expressed in Parliament are rarely raised in court cases and, as any lawyer will agree, such sentiments do not count for anything in court. For this reason, legislation is required to enable people to vindicate their rights and become full citizens. This will mean having bilingual courts for Irish Sign Language users, bilingual treatment when they visit hospital and so forth. That is a crucial aspect of the Bill.

The Oireachtas is an assembly of 60 Senators and 166 Deputies who have been elected to represent citizens and express their will. The will of the people should be manifested in legislation. Some people will argue that power has moved away from Parliament and towards the permanent Government or bureaucracy. I would not like that to happen.

Senators from all sides have taken up the case of the Irish Sign Language community and worked on their behalf, which is exactly what Parliament should do. We must recognise the rights of this minority and all of the rights set out in the Good Friday Agreement. The Seanad exists because in 1921 a minority was concerned that former Unionists would not be represented in a future republic. They visited Arthur Griffiths, Éamon de Valera and Lloyd George and this resulted in the establishment of the Seanad. Today, we are asked to give consideration to another minority. A long time has passed since 1921-22 but we should provide in legislation for the full rights of this minority.

The Government can amend the Bill if necessary and I appreciate Senator Conway's remarks in that regard. Parliament is here to represent the people. Taking into account what happened in the case of other minorities who were cherished - the first Seanad had a great record in that regard and helped defuse much bitterness - we are being asked by another minority to espouse their cause and we should support the Bill on that basis. This community has been left outside and has come here today with its signers. It has given a whole new dimension to how a parliament operates. It is a privilege to be associated with this legislation.