The Minister of State with responsibility for disability recently signed an order bringing the Irish Sign Language Act 2017 into operation.

The order was signed jointly with Minister for Disability Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Roderic O’Gorman.

'Milestone'

The Minister of State with responsibility for disability, Anne Rabbitte described the commencement of the act as a “milestone moment” for the Irish Sign Language (ISL) population.

The legislation recognises the right of the deaf community to use ISL as their native language and to use, develop and preserve it.

It places a duty on all public bodies to provide ISL speakers with free interpretation when availing of or seeking to access statutory entitlements and services.

Specific duties and obligations

In addition, the act provides for specific duties and obligations in the areas of legal proceedings, educational provision and broadcasting.

Under section 4 of the act, a person may use ISL in, or in any pleading in, any court.

Courts must also do “all that is reasonable” to ensure that evidence can be given in the language and that ISL speakers will not be placed at any disadvantage.

Around 50,000 people communicate in ISL on a daily basis as part of their work or interactions with family. 5,000 of these are native deaf signers whose preferred language is ISL.

Minister Rabbitte acknowledged, however, that there was still work to be done to ensure that the legislation delivered what the ISL community required. She said a report on this issue would be completed this year.