Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I join with those who have commended Senator Daly and all of the advocates who have brought the Bill to this point. While the amendment is due to be accepted, I want to add to Senator Daly's remarks and put a question to the Minister of State. There is a duty in terms of culture that is not entirely outside the role of the State. At a Council of Europe level, we have a document, In From the Margins, which states that there is a responsibility to ensure participation in cultural life is available to all. While I understand absolutely that this may need to be amended in the Bill, I urge that as the legislation comes to pass, we do not simply restrict the availability of translation services to those very urgent and essential areas my colleague highlighted, including the courts, medicine and access to services. We must also set an ambition for the State to ensure that those who are deaf are able to participate in and, importantly, contribute to other aspects of the cultural life of the State so that we in the hearing community can avail of translators also and the cultural perspectives of those who may be deaf. There is a responsibility in the context of culture and there may be other mechanisms besides the Bill where that can be carried forward.