Mark Daly (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I said deafness is not a party political issue, but a civil rights issue. This is an issue about the extreme marginalisation of a community and I thank the Senators who have spoken on this amendment and on other issues. I especially thank Senator Lorraine Clifford-Lee, who is sick, had an operation recently and came in to get this Bill passed. The Government withdrew its own amendment that we had also submitted with the exact same text, formally recognising Irish Sign Language. This is Committee Stage. In this country, this is where the changes are made. We cannot pretend we can agree on everything. That happens in China, where they agree on everything all the time because they have to. We have to say we can disagree. The place to make the Government's case for the amendments was in this House with its amendments. We are going to pass the Bill today through Committee Stage, I hope with the support of all Members. For the record, on Report Stage we will be submitting amendments again on every section. Perhaps the Clerk could clarify whether I have to say that as we go through the sections or whether I can do so now. The Minister of State said he would be putting forward his amendments and I do not want to fall down on technicalities. God knows there are enough technicalities on this issue.