Cross party support for the Recognition of Irish Sign Language Bill 2016
Senators have given their support to a bill which would see Irish Sign Language recognised in law as an official language.
Bill entitled an Act to provide for the recognition of Irish Sign Language and for that purpose to set down principles to guide the operations of public bodies; to require public bodies to prepare and implement action plans on Irish Sign Language. The legislation would mean that Irish Sign Language could be used in court proceedings and every public body would be required to provide services through sign language. The State would also have to provide interpreters for deaf students. Broadcasters would be required to subtitle television programmes.
Finian McGrath, Minister of State with responsibility for Disabilities speaking during the Seanad
Next the Bill will be amended to take into consideration others’ suggestions that will improve it further, it will then be debated further, then it will move to the Dáil. It will hopefully progress as fast as possible seeing as it has received support from all sides.
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