Deaf people marginalised, says Oireachtas report

Deaf people in Ireland face “extreme marginalisation” warns an Oireachtas equality committee report.

The report, which comes the week after the discovery of the bodies of deaf brothers Daniel and William McCarthy at their home in Dublin, calls on the Government to officially recognise Irish Sign Language (ISL).

Lack of official recognition for ISL means deaf people’s right to communication is being denied says the Irish Deaf Society.

“The deaths of the McCarthy Brothers in Bluebell, Dublin has unfortunately highlighted in recent weeks the devastating effects due to the lack of support these brothers could have availed of,” said Irish Deaf Society chairwoman, Lianne Quigley.

There are 5,000 deaf people using ISL on a daily basis with an additional 35,000 hearing people using it daily, said Irish Deaf Society chief executive, Eddie Redmond: “ISL is an innate and integral part of their personality. There is no national register of ISL interpreters and ISL teachers, and furthermore there are no accreditation or monitoring systems. We need to promote our Irish Sign Language and the importance of social inclusion by providing deaf awareness training for any communities, employment and health services.”

Accessing public services, medical information and online services are just some of the examples of social exclusion members of the deaf community face on a daily basis says Dr John Bosco Conama, a professor in deaf studies at Trinity College Dublin and a member of the deaf community.

Deaf people often have to rely on family members to interpret their medical information which can lead to simple miscommunications but these could be putting someone in a “life or death” situation, says Dr Conama.

They also face issues in accessing the workplace, a process Dr Conama says can be demotivating and can contribute to unemployment. He says there are simple steps people can take to make sure deaf members in your community are included — like learning how to say hello and goodbye in ISL, or asking a neighbour to teach you a few words.

The Oireachtas equality committee report was sent to Tánaiste and Justice and Equality Minister, Frances Fitzgerald, and ministers of state, David Stanton and Finian McGrath, yesterday.

The committee called on the Government to fully support the Irish Sign Language Bill which is currently in the second stage in the Seanad. Committee chairman, Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, said meeting with members of the Irish Deaf Society showed the committee members the isolation deaf people face as a result of lack of sign language provision.