David Cullinane (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank and commend Senators Daly, Ó Murchú and Byrne, who is not present, on drafting the Bill and on using their Private Members' time to raise this important issue and to allow us to debate it. I also welcome members of the deaf community to the Gallery.

In recent months and years, there has been a great deal of discussion on citizens' rights and sovereignty for a variety of competing reasons. However, the Bill goes to the heart of the question of sovereignty, in that it relates to citizens' rights. All citizens should be treated equally. Given the Minister of State's political ideological, she supports this view. Recognising ISL concerns the rights of all citizens.

We should take up their campaign and vindicate their rights.

I have often made the point, when it comes to minority groups, that we as legislators are here to vindicate the rights of all citizens and we have to vindicate the rights of members of the deaf community as well in all facets. This is one of the areas where we need to do more. It is where my party is coming from on this issue. I support and recognise Irish Sign Language as the preferred sign language of the deaf community in the State and that is what the Bill seeks to achieve but the State has to live up to its obligations also. It is one thing for us to accept that is the case but we have to provide the resources and do all the things that go with the recognition. I agree that it is an expression of a unique, rich and valuable culture.

Irish Sign Language is unique and has an interesting history in that it arose from the deaf community and was developed by deaf people. It is a language that has struggled against official suppression with the result that it did not receive State recognition until 1972. As with the Irish language, recognition as an official language does not necessarily mean the resources required are provided in order that users can practise it on a daily basis. We can all give examples of that when it comes to the Irish language. We have much legislation, we have many policies and we have strategies for the Irish language but when it comes to living one's life through the medium of that language it is not always positive and the resources are not always in place to make that a reality.

I note the positive points mentioned by the Minister of State in her constructive and comprehensive contribution. It is regrettable that the Minister of State is not accepting the Bill. I always make the point when opposition Deputies or Senators table Bills that if there are defects and problems in the Bill, Committee and Report Stages can deal with that. If we agree with the fundamental substance of the Bill we should accept it, allow it to go to Committee Stage and seek to amend and perfect it if the Minister has problems with it. To simply reject the Bill is not the way to do business. I regret the fact that the Minister of State may be going in that direction. It would be better if she supported the Bill and then sought to amend, tweak or change aspects of it with which she may have a problem. It is also a question of resources being made available in order that members of the deaf community can use Irish Sign Language when they need to do so.

I wish, if I may, deal with access to services which is important. It is long past time for the State in conjunction with the deaf community, because it has to be a partnership, to develop ideas to improve access to public services for users of the Irish Sign Language. I welcome some of the movements which have been made in this regard. The CEO of the Irish Deaf Society, Mr. Peter Regan, stated that it is a matter of principle that this Bill is passed. The Irish Government signed the UN Human Rights Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2007, which contains duties towards native sign languages. In addition, an EU parliamentary resolution from 1988, presented by Irish MEP, Eileen Lemass, has since been ignored by consecutive Irish governments. The more recent Brussels declaration on sign language in the European Union of 2010 urges member states to actively support the use of sign languages. Although we have taken on board the ethos of the convention, that we have not ratified it since 2007 is not good enough for the deaf community in Ireland. I refer not only to this Government but to previous governments also.

I welcome the Government's targeting of initiatives which would enhance the effective availability of interpreters and interpretation solutions such as the use of technology for remote access to services. However, I revert to the primary point that to recognise the language as an official language infers the right to use that language. The crux of the issue is that the deaf community in Ireland should be given that right. The deaf community are citizens of the State and as such should be treated with equality and respect. Accepting Irish Sign Language as an official language would achieve that aim. They should not be discriminated against, even unwittingly, by the State. However, the failure to officially support the deaf community and their unique and valuable language and way of life seriously impacts on their ability to fully participate in Irish life. I also would argue, as I do on many issues, that we should adopt an all-island approach to this issue. I recognise that strides have been made in the North to recognise the language and we need to catch up here. If it can be done in the North there is no reason it cannot be done here.

I commend the Senators who tabled the Bill. It should be supported by all Senators and the Government. If we have problems with it, let us discuss them on Committee Stage and tweak and amend it. The substance of the Bill is sound in that it seeks to give recognition to Irish Sign Language. However, we must go further to ensure the resources are in place in order that users can use Irish Sign Language in their daily lives.