Deaf Society Puts Pressure On Dáil

The Irish Deaf Society (IDS) has called on the government to set the wheels in motion towards achieving legal recognition for Irish Sign Language (ISL). The move follows a public protest outside the Dáil a fortnight ago that marked International Week of the Deaf.

The motion on Irish Sign Language is expected to be brought before the Seanad today by Senator Conway.

The motion has already been signed by 17 other senators. It seeks to implement guidelines on policy for public recognition of ISL.

Speaking on the issue, IDS CEO Peter Regan said: "It is a matter of principle that this motion is passed. The Irish government signed the UN Human Rights Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2007, which contains duties towards native sign languages. In addition, an EU Parliamentary resolution from 1988 presented by Irish MEP Eileen Lemass has since been ignored by consecutive Irish Governments, and the more recent Brussels Declaration on Sign Language in the European Union of 2010 urges member states to actively support the use of sign languages."

"Without legal protections, deaf people face uncertain and limited access to society," a statement from the IDS said.

"From access to education and healthcare, to interpreting standards and television programming, legal recognition will go a long way towards removing barriers that exclude deaf people on a day-to-day basis. Irish Sign Language has become a keystone for achieving Equality for Deaf people, without which places deaf people at social, economic, and cultural disadvantage."

Mr Regan added: "This outcome of the debate on this motion will outline clearly where the Government stands on this equality issue. So far, the Government has only paid lip-service towards the EU and UN; this is a moment of action, and an opportunity for the government to demonstrate its sincerity on a long-standing issue."

The Irish Deaf Society will hold a protest outside Seanad Éireann today, Wednesday, October 9 from 16:00 to 19:00 while the motion on Irish Sign Language Recognition is debated.

(IT/CD)