Debate contribution: Sign Language Bill: Final Stage

Debate contribution by Mrs Pam Cameron on 28 April 2026.

MLA: Mrs Pam Cameron
Party at the time: Democratic Unionist Party
Date: 28 April 2026
Type: Debate contribution
Business: Executive Committee Business
Heading: Sign Language Bill: Final Stage
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 5510047

Text

I am delighted to speak today on the Final Stage of the Sign Language Bill. It is a historic day. It is an incredibly significant and long-awaited day and one that will be welcomed by the deaf community across Northern Ireland and further afield. I welcome all of you to our Public Gallery. It is great to have you with us and included at this stage. I give a particular shout-out to Rita and Raymond Abernethy, my constituents in South Antrim. We have had very confused conversations for many years, and I hope that those will get easier as time goes on and we see the impact of the legislation as it is rolled out. This is a really good piece of work, one that reflects sustained engagement and a shared commitment across the House to improve how we recognise and support those who use British Sign Language and Irish Sign Language in their daily life. I thank the DUP Minister for Communities for making it an absolute priority in this term of office. I also thank the Department officials who worked for an incredibly long time on the legislation and worked so well with the entirety of the sector throughout the process, ensuring that co-design took place and that the legislation can indeed be the very best that it can be. I extend my sincere thanks to the deaf community, the representative organisations such as the British Deaf Association (BDA) and the wider stakeholders who have contributed their lived experience, their insight and their expertise in shaping this incredibly important legislation. For far too long, many deaf people have faced unnecessary barriers when accessing public services, information and opportunities. For those whose first language is BSL or ISL, that experience is too often dependent on workarounds rather than being built into a system from the outset. The Bill begins to change that. It places a clear expectation on public authorities to plan for and deliver improved access, and it does so in a way that is practical and proportionate. Importantly, the Bill also recognises that sign language is not simply a tool for communication; it is a part of a distinct culture and identity, and we celebrate that. That has to be understood and respected by all of us. By recognising BSL and ISL in this way, we send a clear message that the deaf community is valued as integral to the fabric of our society, not as an afterthought or an add-on. The focus now must turn to delivery, and the legislation provides a strong foundation, but its success will be measured by what follows. We need to see tangible improvements in access to public information, greater availability of services in sign language and continued progress across areas such as education, healthcare and justice. Early access to sign language for deaf children and their families will also be key to improving long-term outcomes and ensuring that no one is disadvantaged from the very start of life. Above all, delivery must remain informed by those with lived experience. Ongoing engagement with the deaf community will be essential if we are to get this right. At the Bill's previous stages, I raised the issue of the importance of guidance, which is under development. That guidance will be vital in guiding public services as we move to implement the legislation.
I put on record my thanks to the Committee Clerk and her team. I came to the Committee for Communities late in the day. A huge amount of work has been done, not just by Committee staff but by many members of staff who have been incredibly accommodating in ensuring that every voice has been heard during the scrutiny of the legislation. That was no mean feat, and we thank everyone who was involved in making the scrutiny as good as it could possibly be. This is a great day. It is a day that will mean a positive step forward. It is about fairness, inclusion and respect. It is about recognising the importance of language and ensuring that people are not excluded because of it. I have great pleasure in supporting the Bill, and I look forward to seeing the difference that it will make in the many years ahead.

710 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

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