Lynn Ruane (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I will briefly respond to those comments. I understand the complexities this requirement would bring in terms of the need for translation and interpretation. Irish Sign Language is recognised by the State as a language. It should not be the case that somebody is not able to fluidly communicate with the most powerful person in the room in a language fully understood by all present because, even if there is interpretation, nuances can be lost. It is about trying to equalise the participation of somebody in the court process.

I play football. There is woman who is a deaf player on one of the other teams at my club. I remember watching her team play and the managers communicating with her in Irish Sign Language. I know that took place on a football pitch but I was so impressed. I thought how amazing it was that somebody was equally able to communicate with the managers in the same way everybody else on the team was. I asked the managers how it came about that they knew Irish Sign Language. I wondered if they learned it just to be able to communicate with the football team, but many of them worked in schools or were special needs assistants. The fact is more of us should be proficient in Irish Sign Language in order to be able to equalise some of those interactions to the point where people can communicate in sign language even when they are running around on a football pitch.

There is definitely room for us to encourage judges, clerks and anybody else in any sort of institution or public body, and incentivise people, to learn Irish Sign Language and be able to use it every day, especially if they work with people who are already in the vulnerable position of being in court and further feeling that vulnerability because they cannot communicate directly with the judge or other people in the room in their preferred language. I will move the amendment, notwithstanding the contributions made.