Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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The Irish Sign Language Act 2017 was signed into law on 24th December 2017 and I commenced the Act jointly with the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O'Gorman, in December 2020.

The Act recognises the right of the Deaf community to use Irish Sign Language (ISL) as their native language. The Act creates obligations for the public sector regarding the provision of ISL. In addition, the Act provides for specific duties and obligations in the areas of legal proceedings, educational provision and broadcasting.

Implementing the Irish Sign Language Act requires a whole of government approach. As such, all public bodies have obligations to fulfil.

Section 10 of the Act requires me, as Minister, to request a report on the operation of the Act to be produced, initially three years after enactment and every five years thereafter. These reports must be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas.

In line with these requirements, the National Disability Authority (NDA) was commissioned to produce the first report on the operation of the Act last year. A draft Report was submitted to me last year and subsequently circulated to Departments and agencies for observations and to ensure accuracy in the preparation of a final version. The Report was finalised early this year and was formally submitted to me by the NDA.

The NDA report is now receiving detailed consideration within my Department. As the recommendations of the report affect a wide range of organisations, it has been necessary to consider the whole of government implications arising. I intend to publish the report and lay it before the Houses at the earliest possible opportunity.