Sign Language Bill - Committee for Communities
Transcript of consultation launch video
Committee Stage Consideration.
The Sign Language Bill was introduced to the Northern Ireland Assembly by the Minister for Communities on 10th of February 2025.
The Bill completed its Second Stage on the 18th of 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, or 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.
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.
Responding via BSL or ISL.
We are using WhatsApp to receive video evidence submitted by BSL or ISL. To respond in sign language, please send a WhatsApp message to 07985226311.
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.
