Minister outlines plan to bring foward Sign Language Bill

Proposals to increase the number of interpreters in Northern Ireland and to bring forward a Sign Language Bill have been outlined by Communities Minister Gordon Lyons.

The minister told MLAs that he was committed to ensuring that members of the deaf community have the “same rights and opportunities as those in the hearing community, and are able to access services in their own language”.

Mr Lyons said: “I am aware that profoundly deaf people consider themselves as part of a cultural and linguistic minority group rather than a disability group, and view their sign language as their ‘language of need’.”

A sign language act would require the Executive to ensure the use of British and Irish sign language across public services.

It would also ensure a duty to promote sign language in educational settings and allow more people to learn it for free.

Mr Lyons said the use of sign language interpreters at ministerial briefings during the Covid pandemic was a positive step, but added more needed to be done to address the current need for more British sign language and Irish sign language interpreters.

He said: “One of the most pressing issues to ensure accessibility and fuller social integration for the deaf community in Northern Ireland, is to increase the supply of professionally trained and appropriately accredited interpreters.”

The minister said work was ongoing to provide a pathway for interpreters through enhanced training and, potentially, an academic qualification.

Mr Lyons continued “My officials have been engaging with key stakeholders, which includes the deaf community and their representatives, to develop the policy to inform the drafting of clauses for legislation.

“When I have considered these cross-cutting policy proposals in detail, I intend to seek Executive approval to introduce a Sign Language Bill to the Assembly at the earliest opportunity.

“I also intend to seek the resources to put in place the infrastructure necessary to deliver on the intent of the legislation.”

Alliance Party MLA Paula Bradshaw said people in the deaf community in Northern Ireland had been waiting 21 years for legislation.

She said: “In fact, when my colleagues and I were working on language and identity legislation in 2017, we sought the inclusion of a Sign Language Act as part of the package at that time.

“That is what makes it even more frustrating we have faced continued delays in making this an urgent priority.”