Houses of the Oireachtas Service launches Irish Sign Language Strategy

The Irish Sign Language Act 2017 (No. 40 of 2017) was signed into law on 24 December 2017. The Act provides for the recognition of Irish Sign Language, its use in legal proceedings, the provision of interpretation into Irish Sign Language by public bodies and for related matters. In accordance with best practice, the Houses of the Oireachtas Service (“the Service”) opted to be an early adopter and leader in relation to this legislation and to produce a report on an Irish Sign Language Strategy for the Service.

In April 2018, the Business Committee approved the establishment of a Working Group on Irish Sign Language and the Working Group first met in June 2018. The Working Group engaged with Stakeholders from:

• The Irish Council for Sign Language Interpreters;
• The Irish Deaf Society;
• The Centre for Deaf Studies;
• Chime (formerly “DeafHear”).

Meetings were also held with a deaf member of staff from the Oireachtas and there was also input from a former interpreter in the European Parliament. Information was also sought from the Scottish Parliament, as well as from other Government Departments and Offices.

The Working Group was tasked with examining steps to achieve Irish Sign Language supports for:

• Witnesses and visitors attending the Houses and Committees for specific debates;
• Viewers of Oireachtas TV through continued compliance with the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland’s Access Rules;
• Visitors to our website and social media sites;
• Visitors on tours; and
• Members and staff.

“Parliament must be representative of wider society,” Ceann Comhairle, Seán Ó Fearghaíl TD said today.

“Accessibility and an open Parliament for the people are two of the key tenants of the Houses of the Oireachtas Service’s overall strategic goals and so, I am proud to launch the new ISL Strategy for the Service. The implementation of this Strategy will allow for greater equality by ensuring that the work of Parliament is being communicated to deaf people and those who are hard of hearing. It is vital that members of the deaf community are able to access State services in their own language. The Houses of the Oireachtas Service aims to be a leader in the provision of ISL services in order to enhance the rights and entitlements of citizens who are deaf.”

“The report produced by the Working Group highlights eight recommendations which we believe are reasonable, achievable and can be built on in the coming years. Some of the work on these has already commenced, for example in our broadcasting of the work of both Houses, and we as an organisation are committed to honouring our ISL commitments.”

Some of the recommendations contained in the report include:

• The Houses of the Oireachtas Service should recruit two ISL interpreters to provide in-house interpretation covering the needs of the Houses, the Committees, Broadcasting Unit and other in-house events;
• The Houses of the Oireachtas shall provide regular ISL signed tours for visitors;
• Training supports for staff and members;
• Support for placement opportunities for members of the Deaf Community, and undergraduate interpreter students;
• Continue to meet broadcasting access rules targets, develop facilities for broadcasting and provide ISL access to archived material.

The signed recommendations of the report can be viewed here

Read the full report here

See photos from the ISL Strategy Launch here