Paul Bradford (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

While I will be brief I wish to state my general support for the legislation which has been presented. In regard to comments made by Senator Cullinane, if there is a difficulty, as there often is, with particular parts of the legislation or the phraseology, it would be preferable to keep the Bill alive and if the Minister of State was in a position to reflect further on Committee Stage. We await her verdict in that regard.

The contributions made by all colleagues, to which I have listened either in the Chamber or in my office, send a very strong signal on behalf of all of us that this type of legislation is required and is a road we must travel. Much has been said in this country about the equality agenda but this issue is also part of the equality agenda. It strikes me from time to time that some parts of the equality agenda are deemed more important and more equal than others. If we are to have a culture of equality, all parts of the agenda must move forward together. I see this as a crucial part of equality.

Senator Martin Conway and others have spoken on many occasions here about the need to progress services for the deaf. I was very taken by the constructive comments of Senator Marie Moloney. It is interesting to note that within the House, Members have engaged in a constructive fashion. We must all work in that regard.

One aspect I would like put on the agenda is a service which would be of some assistance to the deaf community, the subtitling service. I have raised that issue many times down the years. I express my grave disappointment, particularly at our national broadcaster, at what presumably is a lack of investment in subtitling. I speak with a personal agenda in this regard as my mother has a profound hearing problem. At home some nights I would watch her watching live programming, in particular the news. I would ask any of my colleagues to turn down the volume, switch on the subtitles of the page, 888, and try to follow the News but it is virtually impossible because the subtitling is generally five, ten or 15 seconds behind the screen. That is not good enough. If it is a question of resources and investment that must be tackled. Another important Irish TV channel appears to have very little investment in subtitling. That entire issue must become part of the agenda which must be tackled.

I cannot ignore what concerns the Minister of State may have but we must all work together to ensure that either this legislation or something akin to it, or perhaps her improved version, is put in place as soon as possible. People who have lived without full access to the services they require must have their needs met. This is positive legislation. It is a good advertisement for the Seanad that we are taking this subject seriously as a result of the work done by Senator Martin Conway and others. It shows we are a listening Chamber, responsive to the needs of the Irish people. That we have had a calm and constructive debate shows there is very little to divide either the Members or the Government and that we are progressing in the right direction but progress, as soon as possible, is what we want to hear from the Minister of State.

I thank the three Senators who tabled this non-political, non-contentious and non-divisive Bill. It is about the equality agenda and we in this House must live up to that equality agenda.