Sign Language Legislation

Part of Oral Answers to Questions — Communities – in the Northern Ireland Assembly at 3:00 pm on 7 December 2020.

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Photo of Carál Ní Chuilín Carál Ní Chuilín Sinn Féin 3:00, 7 December 2020

All other jurisdictions and legislatures have been consulted. Not only have any Bills, Acts or pieces of work that they have brought forward helped to shape the framework, they will help to shape the Bill.

Not so long ago, I met with people who are deaf or partially deaf. I made a point of meeting as many people from the sector as possible, including parents who have children who have lost their hearing or who do not have hearing. I am more than happy to meet more people in that situation, particularly given that the framework is not on a statutory footing. There is therefore a denial of rights, particularly for families. People communicate through sign language, and we definitely need legislation to enable that.