{"id":28021,"date":"2023-10-07T15:49:26","date_gmt":"2023-10-07T15:49:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/?p=28021"},"modified":"2023-12-15T21:28:59","modified_gmt":"2023-12-15T21:28:59","slug":"irish-sign-language","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/irish-sign-language\/","title":{"rendered":"Irish Sign Language"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_63 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/irish-sign-language\/#Recognition_of_Irish_Sign_Language\" title=\"Recognition of Irish Sign Language\">Recognition of Irish Sign Language<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/irish-sign-language\/#Use_of_Irish_Sign_Language_in_legal_proceedings\" title=\"Use of Irish Sign Language in legal proceedings\">Use of Irish Sign Language in legal proceedings<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/irish-sign-language\/#Educational_supports_for_deaf_children\" title=\"Educational supports for deaf children\">Educational supports for deaf children<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/irish-sign-language\/#Duty_of_public_bodies\" title=\"Duty of public bodies\">Duty of public bodies<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/irish-sign-language\/#Engagement_of_verified_competent_Irish_Sign_Language_interpreters\" title=\"Engagement of verified competent Irish Sign Language interpreters\">Engagement of verified competent Irish Sign Language interpreters<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/irish-sign-language\/#Broadcasting_principles\" title=\"Broadcasting principles\">Broadcasting principles<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/irish-sign-language\/#Support_for_access_to_Events\" title=\"Support for access to Events\">Support for access to Events<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/irish-sign-language\/#Report_of_operation_of_Act\" title=\"Report of operation of Act\">Report of operation of Act<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Recognition_of_Irish_Sign_Language\"><\/span>Recognition of Irish Sign Language<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The State recognises the right of Irish Sign Language users to use Irish Sign Language as their native language and the corresponding duty on all public bodies to provide Irish Sign Language users with free interpretation when availing of or seeking to access statutory entitlements and services.The community of persons using Irish Sign Language shall have the right to use, develop and preserve Irish Sign Language.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Use_of_Irish_Sign_Language_in_legal_proceedings\"><\/span>Use of Irish Sign Language in legal proceedings<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>A person may use Irish Sign Language in, or in any pleading in, any court.\u00a0Every court has, in any proceedings before it, the duty to do all that is reasonable to ensure that any person competent in Irish Sign Language and who cannot hear or understand English or Irish appearing in or giving evidence before it may be heard in that language, if that is his or her choice, and that in being so heard the person will not be placed at any disadvantage.<\/p>\n<p>For the purposes of ensuring that no person is placed at a disadvantage as aforesaid, the court may cause such facilities to be made available, as it considers appropriate, for the simultaneous or consecutive interpretation of proceedings into Irish Sign Language.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Educational_supports_for_deaf_children\"><\/span>Educational supports for deaf children<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The Minister for Education and Skills shall establish a scheme for the provision of Irish Sign Language classes to the parents, siblings and grandparents of a child who is deaf, and other persons who serve in loco parentis or as a guardian to a child who is deaf,<\/p>\n<p>Pending the conclusion of the review of the Special Needs Assistant Scheme which the National Council for Special Education is undertaking and the implementation of any recommendations arising from the review, the Minister shall establish a scheme to provide Irish Sign Language support for children attending recognized schools (within the meaning of the Education Act 1998) whose primary language is Irish Sign Language,<\/p>\n<p>The Minister shall ensure there is established by institutions of higher education in the State, as part of programmes of teacher education and training provided by those institutions, such provision, as he or she deems necessary, to ensure that there are a sufficient number of educational placements offering Irish Sign Language training for teachers of children who are deaf or hard of hearing and who are attending recognised schools, and<\/p>\n<p>The Mnister shall, where practicable and having regard to the need to ensure the provision of education and support services to children who are deaf or hard of hearing and who are attending recognised schools, determine, from time to time, minimum qualifications of teachers of those children.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Duty_of_public_bodies\"><\/span>Duty of public bodies<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>A public body shall do all that is reasonable to ensure that interpretation into Irish Sign Language is provided for a person who is competent in that language and cannot hear or understand English or Irish when that person is seeking to avail of or access statutory entitlements or services provided by or under statute by that public body.The provision of interpretation shall be at no cost to the person concerned.<\/p>\n<p>The Minister may by regulations\u2014<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>provide that where a person intends to avail of Irish Sign Language services provided by a public body, the person shall give the public body such prior notification of his or her intention within such period as specified in the regulations, or<br \/>\nprovide for the procedure in relation to the provision of such services by a public<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Provision of or availing of a remote, web-based service shall, if the Irish Sign Language user consents, be sufficient to meet the obligations of a public body under this section.<\/p>\n<p>The Minister may prescribe as a public body such other person, body, organisation or group financed wholly or partly out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas (being a person, body, organisation or group that, in the opinion of the Minister, ought, in the public interest and having regard to the provisions and intentions of this Act, to be so prescribed).<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Engagement_of_verified_competent_Irish_Sign_Language_interpreters\"><\/span>Engagement of verified competent Irish Sign Language interpreters<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>A court or a public body, in compliance with its obligations under this Act, shall not engage the services of a person providing Irish Sign Language interpretation unless the person\u2019s competence has been verified by having been accredited in accordance with an accreditation scheme funded by the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Broadcasting_principles\"><\/span>Broadcasting principles<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Broadcasters (within the meaning of the Broadcasting Act 2009) in fulfilling their obligations in relation to Irish Sign Language targets and requirements in respect of programmes transmitted on a broadcasting service (within the meaning of that Act) provided by the broadcaster as set out in the broadcasting rules made under the Broadcasting Act 2009 by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland shall adhere to principles of equality, dignity and respect in terms of the promotion and broadcasting of such programmes.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Support_for_access_to_Events\"><\/span>Support for access to Events<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection may, with the consent of the Minster for Public Expenditure and Reform, out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas, provide funds to facilitate users of Irish Sign Language with regard to support in relation to access to social, educational and cultural events and services (including medical) and other activities by such users as specified in guidelines made by that Minister of the Government.<\/p>\n<p>Guidelines shall specify the events, services and activities to which the guidelines apply and shall make provision regarding the management and delivery of the support in relation to access to those events, services or activities by users of Irish Sign Language.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Report_of_operation_of_Act\"><\/span>Report of operation of Act<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The Minister shall, not later than 3 years after the date on which this Act is enacted and every 5 years thereafter require a report to be prepared on the operation of this Act.<\/p>\n<p>A report\u00a0 shall include an assessment of\u2014<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>whether any amendments to the scope and contents of this Act are necessary or desirable,<\/li>\n<li>whether additional provisions need to be made in relation to supports for a child within the school system whose primary language is Irish Sign Language, and<\/li>\n<li>the qualifications for the minimum level of Irish Sign Language competency for persons who are teaching a child whose primary language is Irish Sign Language.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The Minister shall ensure that persons or organisations that are representative of the interests of the members of the deaf community are consulted on the matters to be considered in a report prepared under this section.<\/p>\n<p>The Minister shall cause a copy of a report prepared under this section to be laid before each House of the Oireachtas.<\/p>\n<!--themify_builder_content-->\n<div id=\"themify_builder_content-28021\" data-postid=\"28021\" class=\"themify_builder_content themify_builder_content-28021 themify_builder tf_clear\">\n    <\/div>\n<!--\/themify_builder_content-->\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Recognition of Irish Sign Language The State recognises the right of Irish Sign Language users to use Irish Sign Language as their native language and the corresponding duty on all public bodies to provide Irish Sign Language users with free interpretation when availing of or seeking to access statutory entitlements and services.The community of persons [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[364],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28021"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=28021"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28021\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":30292,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28021\/revisions\/30292"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28021"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=28021"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=28021"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}