Committee for Communities - Primary Legislation

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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.

As part of its scrutiny the Committee launched a consultation survey seeking views from interested stakeholders and members of the public. The consultation closed on Friday 9 May 2025.

The Committee is now considering the responses that were received.

Follow the progress of the Bill by watching recordings of debates in Plenary and Committee evidence sessions [EXTERNAL LINK].

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Background to the Bill

• Read the Bill as introduced
  
• Watch a signed version of the Explanatory and Financial Memorandum at the Department for Communities website [EXTERNAL LINK]
• Read the Explanatory and Financial Memorandum as introduced

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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

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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:

• Committee.communities@niassembly.gov.uk