Sign language Bill greeted by cheers
SIGN language is due to become the third official language of the State after a cross-party Bill was passed in the Dáil yesterday.
Campaigners cheered loudly in the public gallery as the Recognition of Irish Sign Language for the Deaf Community Act was passed.
Finian McGrath, minister of State for health, was among those signing ‘good’ or ‘yes’ to the gallery.
The Act, which will be signed into law by President Higgins before Christmas, will compel all State agencies to draft an action plan for the use of sign language.
All government departments will be legally required to accept sign language, just as they are compelled to accept the use of the Irish and English languages.
More than 5,000 members of the deaf community use Irish Sign Language, known as ISL, and over 40,000 family members, government officials and social workers use it to communicate with them.
Fianna Fáil Senator Mark Daly first introduced the Sign Language Bill and said it was extremely important to help end discrimination. He told reporters yesterday: ‘This will end the extreme marginalisation of the deaf community and allow them to access the services of the State.’
Introducing the Bill in the Dáil, Mr McGrath congratulated Senator Daly and the deaf community for achieving cross-party consensus.
“Provision of supports so [the deaf community] can visit their GP and engage in social and cultural activities would be a humane and worthwhile initiative to combat this isolation and improve well-being and mental health,” he said.
The Government will provide €327,000 next year for training government sign language interpreters.
Social Democrats TD Róisín Shortall described Irish sign language was ‘an indigenous language in its own right used by a sizeable minority in the State’.
Ireland will join 45 other countries that recognise sign language as an official language.