Committee for Communities - Primary Legislation
Sign Language Bill
Committee Stage Consideration
The Sign Language Bill was introduced to the Northern Ireland Assembly by the Minister for Communities on 10 February 2025. The Bill completed Second Stage on 18 February 2025 and was referred to the Committee for Communities for consideration.
The Sign Language Bill makes provision for:
- Official and equal recognition of British Sign Language (BSL) and Irish Sign Language (ISL) as languages of Northern Ireland.
- A statutory duty being placed on prescribed public organisations to take reasonable steps to make their services and the information they provide as accessible to individuals in the deaf community as they are to individuals who are not in the deaf community.
- A commitment to promoting the use and understanding of sign languages, including greater access to sign language education for deaf children and their families.
- A framework for accrediting sign language interpreters and teachers, ensuring professional standards and capacity building within the sector.
Call for Evidence
As part of the Assembly’s legislative processes, the Sign Language Bill has been referred to the Assembly’s Committee for Communities so that the Committee can consider and take evidence on the Bill and report its opinion to the Assembly.
BSL
ISL
View a written transcript of the consultation launch videos above.
The Committee is seeking views from stakeholders on the objectives, proposals and potential consequences of the Bill.
Your views will help to inform the Committee’s consideration of the Bill and any recommendations or changes the Committee may suggest as the Bill moves to the next stage of the legislative process.
We have now launched a survey so that you can have your say on the Bill. If you would like to share your opinions, you can do so using BSL, ISL or written text.
Please note that the deadline for submissions has been extended and is now Friday 9 May 2025.
Responding via BSL or ISL
We are using WhatsApp to receive video evidence submitted in BSL or ISL.
To respond in sign language, please send a WhatsApp message to 079 8522 6311. This will start a chat with us where you will be presented with questions. The first questions are basic information collection and are answered through text typing. After these steps and for the remainder of the survey you can use sign language to share your views with us by video.
The BSL or ISL video responses will be interpreted into written English and only the written translation will be published in appendices to the Committee’s report. Your signed video contribution will not be published, so your image will not be made public.
BSL
ISL
Read a written transcription of the WhatsApp quick guide videos above.
Responding with written text
To respond using written text, please click here to visit the Citizen Space survey for this call for evidence.
Quick Links
- Memoranda and Papers supplied to the Committee by the Department
- Memoranda and Papers supplied by others to the Committee
- Minutes of Proceedings of Committee meetings related to the report
- Minutes of Evidence from evidence sessions related to the report
- Written submissions received in relation to the report are available here
- View Research Papers produced by the Assembly’s Research and Information Service (RaISe) in relation to the report
- View other documents in relation to the report
- View the list of witnesses that gave evidence to the Committee in relation to the report
Contact Us
If you would like to request an alternative format to give comments, or have any other queries, please contact the Committee Clerk at the following email address:
