Marie Sherlock (Dublin Central, Labour)
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16. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to provide an update on the implementation of the Irish Sign Language Act 2017 (ISL) within his Department and its associated public bodies, including details of any ISL strategies that have been developed; and if no ISL strategy has been developed to date, the details of plans his Department has to address this gap in the near future. [17975/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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My Department recognises fully the right of Irish Sign Language users to use Irish Sign Language as their native language in accordance with the Irish Sign Language Act 2017 and strives to meet its statutory duties to the fullest extent. A priority action within the Department’s current Statement of Strategy is to embed a culture of dignity and respect in the workplace, emphasising equality, diversity and inclusion.

The Irish Sign Language Act 2017, which came into effect on 23 December 2020, imposes certain obligations on all public bodies. In particular, section 6 of the Act provides that:

• A public body shall do all that is reasonable to ensure that interpretation into Irish Sign Language is provided for a person who is competent in that language and cannot hear or understand English or Irish when that person is seeking to avail of or access statutory entitlements or services provided by or under statute by that public body.
• The provision of interpretation shall be at no cost to the person concerned.
• Provision of or availing of a remote, web-based service shall, if the Irish Sign Language user consents, be sufficient to meet the obligations of a public body under this section.

In the Passport Service, there are currently two members of staff who can provide Irish Sign Language interpretation for members of the public when availing of its services. An additional four staff members are completing training to QQI Award Level 3 Irish Sign Language and it is hoped that they will continue until the final level 6 course. A member of the public who may require the assistance of an Irish Sign Language Interpreter while interacting with the Passport Service can indicate this when booking their appointment online and the members of staff will be made available to interpret and assist during their appointment.