Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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166. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the current status of the complaints mechanism and code of conduct for Irish Sign Language interpreters under the Register of Irish Sign Language Interpreters (RISLI), in light of reports that RISLI does not have the legal authority to receive complaints or enforce a code of conduct; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17792/25]

Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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167. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the role his Department and the Citizens Information Board played in the development, oversight, and approval of the Register of Irish Sign Language Interpreters (RISLI) policies, including its complaints procedure and code of conduct; the reason the legal limitations of RISLI’s authority were not addressed earlier in the process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17793/25]

Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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168. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he will apologise to the deaf community for the failure to deliver the promised complaints mechanism and standards enforcement through the Register of Irish Sign Language Interpreters (RISLI), which had been developed over several years with the input of stakeholders, legal experts and public bodies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17794/25]

Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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169. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he will commit to amending the Irish Sign Language Act 2017 to provide a statutory basis for a complaints mechanism and a code of conduct for Irish Sign Language interpreters, as originally envisaged under section 9 of the 2017 Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17795/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 166, 167, 168 and 169 together.

The Irish Sign Language (ISL) Act 2017 assigns responsibilities to the Minister for Social Protection in relation to the funding of a scheme of accreditation for ISL interpreters (Section 7) and the provision of funds to facilitate ISL users with access to specific events, services and other activities, as specified in guidelines (Section 9).

The implementation of these responsibilities was assigned to the Citizens Information Board (CIB), the statutory body under the aegis of my Department.

In relation to Section 7 of the ISL Act, in 2020, CIB’s funded company, the Sign Language Interpreting Service (SLIS), with the support of CIB, established the Register of Irish Sign Language Interpreters (RISLI). The first of its kind in Ireland, RISLI strengthens and guarantees the quality of ISL provision, by ensuring that interpreters reach specified standards and partake in Continuous Professional Development to maintain their registration status.

While Section 7 of the Act allows the establishment of an ISL interpreter accreditation scheme, independent legal counsel sought by RISLI confirmed that the legislation does not confer on RISLI sufficient authority to investigate complaints or potentially remove interpreters from the Register.

The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) has responsibility for the ISL Act 2017. My Department has been actively engaging with DCEDIY on this matter and has been informed that it is intended that the forthcoming National Disability Strategy will recognise the need to review and, where necessary, update existing disability legislation, including the ISL Act.

My Department will continue to engage with DCEDIY on this important matter. The next National Disability Strategy will take action to uphold the quality and integrity of ISL interpreting for the Deaf community.