Jillian van Turnhout (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I would also like to welcome the Bill that is before us. Before I became a Senator, I did not really have an appreciation or understanding of this problem. Nobody in my family is deaf or hard of hearing. I am on a journey as I try to understand and appreciate this issue. I am cognisant that the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which Ireland signed in 2007, contains obligations regarding native sign languages. We need to be mindful of the needs of the deaf and hard of hearing community. We need to look at improving our consultation systems, particularly by meeting and talking with various families. The question of access to legal services, which has been raised with me in my children's rights role, is a significant issue. I would like to raise the visiting teachers service with the Minister of State while she is here. Parents around the country tell me frequently that the level of resources being allocated to that service is not sufficient to develop the various options and ensure they are available to children. Irish Sign Language is an important option in that context.

I had an opportunity last Saturday to see a film, "95 Decibels", which was being shown by the Irish Deaf Kids organisation. I met parents who are involved in the "happy new ear" campaign and informed them that this Bill would be before the House today. Some of those parents have chosen the cochlear implant route. They wanted to convey their sincere thanks to the Minister of State. I was able to tell them about last week's discussion at the Joint Committee on Health and Children and about the Government's plans to roll out this service over two years. They told me they are part of a community in which Irish Sign Language plays an important role. They said we have to provide resources and supports and we must be cognisant of the differences in this area. It was illustrated to me that we need to give the parents of deaf children a choice, in the same way that we enable the parents of children without hearing difficulties to use different methodologies to teach them to speak, participate and develop. Similarly, it is important that we do not exclude people from facilities like State services and legal services simply because they use Irish Sign Language. As I have said, the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities obliges Ireland to recognise Irish Sign Language.

I would like to put a question to those who are more knowledgeable than me. When I was preparing for today's debate, I read that there has been a deterioration in the use of sign language in New Zealand since 2006, when New Zealand Sign Language was made a national language there. I would be interested to understand that. While I would support the recognition of Irish Sign Language, it is obvious to me that recognition alone is not the answer if we want to ensure it is used. It is not enough to tick the recognition box and say that is great, if it sits on a shelf and nothing actually happens to it. Having read a considerable volume of literature about the significant decrease in the number of New Zealanders using sign language since it was legally recognised, I am concerned about what might happen here.

It is important to ensure early detection services are in place to assist babies and young children. We need to give guidance and support to parents. I heard parents last Saturday talking about their journeys of discovery. They spoke about calling their babies' names and assuming they were caught up in their own little world before eventually realising they have hearing difficulties or have total hearing loss. As a Senator, I did not have exposure to those journeys. I do not know where the supports are. How do we get those supports? How do we ensure those choices are given? There is a significant take-up of sign language by the family members and friends of those who are deaf or hard of hearing. People also use techniques like lip-reading and the new technologies that are being developed. There are many different ways.

I want to support the recognition of Irish Sign Language. I intend to listen more carefully to the debate. I am erring on the side of voting in favour of the Bill unless I hear some more convincing arguments. I believe we have to do more.

I also recognise that the Abbey Theatre, which is our national theatre, has put on an Irish Sign Language interpretative performance for each of its plays for the past 13 years. Other bodies are doing it and today should also be a call to those types of organisations and all of us to see whether there are ways we can ensure that where needed or appropriate, Irish Sign Language is available. I am thinking of the organisations with which I am involved. That is something that is a challenge for each of us as Senators.

I support the Bill but I very much welcome and look forward to hearing what the Minister of State has to say. I echo the thanks from the parents I met who are involved in the Happy New Ear campaign. The Minister of State probably hears a lot about the difficulties and problems. I cannot express to her the thanks they asked me to convey to her.