Debate contribution: Sign Language Bill: Second Stage

Debate contribution by Mr Gordon Lyons on 18 February 2025.

MLA: Mr Gordon Lyons
Party at the time: Democratic Unionist Party
Date: 18 February 2025
Type: Debate contribution (made as a minister)
Business: Executive Committee Business
Heading: Sign Language Bill: Second Stage
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 4806589

Text

I beg to move
I welcome the statement by the British Deaf Association (BDA):
"Deaf community members played a significant role …, collaborating with the BDA, Deaf organisations, and government departments to prepare this Bill."
That statement reflects the unique nature of the work that has been done to deliver the Bill through three languages: British Sign Language, Irish Sign Language and English. Nothing about us without us: the Bill will ensure that that is the rule rather than the exception. The Bill will also be the basis for my Department's lead role, which includes convening the sign language partnership group, comprising representatives from the deaf community and Departments. In March 2004, the Secretary of State formally recognised BSL and ISL as languages in their own right. That recognition provides no legal protection for the languages. Neither language is covered by the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. There has been no Executive recognition or formal Executive-agreed policy or strategy document to date. I recognise and appreciate the deaf community's patience during that lengthy period. When I became Minister a year ago, one of my first commitments was that members of the deaf community would have the same rights and opportunities as those in the hearing community through the introduction of a sign language Bill. Today is a significant step for members of the deaf community towards achieving those rights and opportunities. Some may ask why sign language legislation is needed when we have disability protections. That question is based on the misrecognition of sign language. Many hearing people have the false impression that sign language is a worldwide, universal language or a visual translation of a spoken language. That is not the case. Sign language differs from country to country in the same way as spoken languages do. Uniquely, across the UK and the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland has two sign languages: BSL and ISL. Around the world, deaf people identify themselves as part of a cultural and linguistic minority and view their sign language as their language of need, not as a communication tool. Like many other non-English speakers, sign language users cannot necessarily access English-based information on government websites or printed leaflets and various types of literature. The Bill recognises and promotes BSL and ISL and places duties on public bodies to take reasonable steps to ensure that the information and services that they provide are as accessible to individuals who are in the deaf community as they are to those who are not. As the lead Department, my Department will develop guidance on best practice, including advice on what may amount to "reasonable steps". In addressing some of the more technical aspects associated with the Bill, I confirm that an equality impact assessment (EQIA) was undertaken that examined the Bill's proposals in the context of the promotion of equality of opportunity and good relations, as required by section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998. No adverse impacts were identified. The Bill will place no duties on private enterprises or the voluntary and community sector. Therefore, the Department is satisfied that a regulatory impact assessment is not required. The Bill amounts to 15 clauses, which I will summarise. Clause 1 provides for the official recognition of BSL and ISL as languages of Northern Ireland, without prejudice to any established rights or laws in respect of the deaf community. Clause 2 provides that my Department, as lead Department, will promote:
"the greater use and understanding of British Sign Language and Irish Sign Language"
and:
"the ... entitlement of ... the deaf community to use British Sign Language or Irish Sign Language".
That includes:
"making ... arrangements for ... the availability of classes ... for deaf children, and their close families, guardians and carers".
Clause 3 places a duty on all prescribed organisations to "take all reasonable steps" to provide access to information and services through the mediums of BSL and ISL. Clause 4 provides powers for the Department for Communities to make regulations that will set out all public bodies that will be subject to the duties set out in clause 3. Clause 5 provides that the Department must issue guidance of which all prescribed organisations must take account. Clause 6 provides that the guidance referred to in clause 5 should address issues of best practice. Clause 7 provides the Department with powers to make regulations relating to the Bill. Clause 8 provides that such regulations must be consulted upon and laid before the Assembly. Clause 9 provides that:
"The Department for Communities must prepare a report ... evaluating the impact"
of the Bill within five years of the Bill's commencement and every five-year period thereafter. Clause 10 provides that:
"The Department for Communities must by regulations make a scheme for ... the accreditation of ...(either or both)— (a) teachers of British Sign Language or Irish Sign Language, or (b) interpreters of British Sign Language or Irish Sign Language."
Clause 11 provides the definition of members of the deaf community for the purpose the Bill. Also for the purposes of the Bill, clause 12 defines the different forms of BSL and ISL, including:
"the ... tactile forms ... used by some deafblind people."
Clause 13 defines everyday reliance on BSL or ISL as referring to someone who relies "wholly or substantially" on BSL or ISL:
"by necessity or for convenience in the course of everyday activities."
In clauses 14 and 15, we have the commencement and short title. If the Bill attains Royal Assent, secondary legislation would be required to implement and commence the provisions of the Act. I am aware that the success of the legislation depends on an infrastructure of support for the deaf community, particularly through the building of interpreter capacity to deliver on access to services, which begins with access to information about those services. Therefore, my Department continues to fund accredited BSL/ISL courses across Northern Ireland from level 1, which is beginner level — as Members will now see, I certainly consider myself to be at that end of the scale with my sign language — to level 6, which is degree-equivalent. That is a necessary pathway to qualification and registration as interpreters and translators to support future legislation. The Foyle Deaf Association (FDA) in Londonderry is nearing completion of its interpreter training programme, which is funded by my Department, with successful BSL/ISL students due to register as accredited interpreters in the near future.
In partnership with the Ulster Society for Promoting the Education of the Deaf and Blind and Queen's University Belfast, my Department has co-developed and launched a new deaf sign language studies programme based in the Centre for Translation and Interpreting at Queen's. That the programme is co-founded with the Ulster deaf society is particularly welcome. The programme will support the aims of the Bill and includes a two-year MA in sign language and interpreting at Queen's University Belfast for BSL and ISL students who are both deaf and hearing. The course will further boost interpreting and translating capacity to address current pressures and contribute to the expected increase in demand associated with legislation. It also provides opportunities for academic study and research development into deaf and sign language issues.
At clause 2, I refer to:
" making ... arrangements for ensuring the availability of classes?— ... (b) for deaf children, and their close families, guardians and carers, to learn (or improve proficiency in)"
BSL or ISL. That remains a priority for me. My Department currently invests over £250,000 in a variety of family sign language courses for deaf children, their families and their professional support network. I recently visited Action Deaf Youth, a local deaf charity that supports deaf children and their families to build a strong foundation in early literacy, language acquisition, communication and peer interaction. I witnessed the great work that it delivers to support deaf children and their families and how vital early access to sign language is to them. The children even taught me some sign language, in particular some colours, that I am happy to share with other Members later. As I look up at the Gallery, I see deaf people who use visual languages — signed languages. For the avoidance of doubt, they are languages. For too long, they have experienced social exclusion rooted in accessibility barriers, communication challenges and negative societal attitudes. The Bill seeks to remove those barriers for them and for future generations of the deaf community, including the deaf children I met at Action Deaf Youth. I believe that the Bill is something we can all support. I urge all Members to get behind it today. I commend the Bill to the House.

1,447 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

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