Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 October 2022
165. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when he will publish the final report by the National Disability Authority on the operation of the Irish Sign Language Act 2017 that was provided to the Minister in July 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50632/22]
View answerThe 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.
There has been a delay in publishing the first report on the operation of the ISL Act to avoid prejudicing the outcome of an ongoing legal matter. However, publishing the first report on the operation of the ISL Act remains a key priority for me, and prospective dates for publication are being kept under constant review.I intend to publish the report and lay it before the Houses at the earliest possible opportunity.
