Mark Daly (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The amendment underpins the Broadcasting Act and the activities of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland. A substantial mechanism is available to members of the deaf community for engaging on broadcasting. The process is technical and requires reporting of issues relating to interpreters and subtitling and there is always an argument as to whether targets in these areas are being met. Senator Clifford-Lee and I have agreed to delete the substantial section on broadcasting in light of the amendment proposed by the Minister of State and to allow for further engagement.

With regard to the television coverage of yesterday's events, members of the deaf community tweeted and sent text messages before 12 noon yesterday pointing out that they could not understand what was taking place. Clearly, they could not listen to radio reports but the television broadcasts did not feature subtitling or an interpreter. The use of Twitter by the President of the United States shows the power of this medium and communication in general. As a result of the contacts made with Met Éireann, RTE and TV3, interpreters featured on their broadcasts by yesterday evening. This would not have occurred in previous times because the deaf community is extremely marginalised and its members would not have been able to contact these organisations quickly through tweets, texts and emails. The issue that yesterday would not have been resolved in the past. It should be highlighted through the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland that in circumstances such as yesterday's weather event, the use of sign language interpreters should be standing operating procedure for television broadcasts.