The Sign Language Bill is a proposed law of Northern Ireland in the Northern Ireland Assembly, relating to the promotion and recognition of
British Sign Language
British Sign Language (BSL) is a sign language used in the United Kingdom and is the first or preferred language among the Deafness in the United Kingdom, deaf community in the UK. While private correspondence from William Stokoe hinted at a f ...
and
Irish Sign Language
Irish Sign Language (ISL, ) is the sign language of Ireland, used primarily in the Republic of Ireland. It is also used in Northern Ireland, alongside British Sign Language (BSL). Irish Sign Language is more closely related to French Sign Langu ...
.
Background
On 1 December 2015,
Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure Carál Ní Chuilín
Carál Ní Chuilín (; born 18 December 1964), formerly known as Caroline Cullen, is an Irish Sinn Féin politician and former Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) volunteer serving as the Principal Deputy Speaker of the Northern Ireland A ...
announced plans to establish a framework to promote sign language. In March 2016, the Department for Communities consulted on "Sign Language Framework".
This framework contained policy proposals for legislation.
The 2020 ''
New Decade, New Approach
New Decade, New Approach (NDNA) is a 9 January 2020 agreement which restored the government of the Northern Ireland Executive after a three-year hiatus triggered by the Renewable Heat Incentive scandal. It was negotiated by Secretary of State for ...
'' agreement included a committemnt to the introduction of legislation relating to sign language.
The
British Sign Language (Scotland) Act 2015,
Irish Sign Language Act 2017
The Irish Sign Language Act 2017 ( Act No. 13 of 2017; previously Bill No. 40 of 2017) is an Act of the Oireachtas (Irish parliament) which gives Irish Sign Language official legal status.
Background
Broadly, before the bill was passed there w ...
,
British Sign Language Act 2022 were passed. In January 2025, a
member of the Senedd
A member of the Senedd (MS; plural: ''MSs''; ; , plural: ) is a representative elected to the Senedd (Welsh Parliament; ). There are sixty members, with forty members chosen to represent individual Senedd constituency, Senedd constituencies, a ...
launched a consultation on a Senedd bill which would promote British Sign Language.
Provisions
The act requires that public bodies take reasonable steps to ensure that information and services are provided in a way that is fully accessible to individuals in the deaf community.
Legislative passage
In February 2025, the bill was introduced to the Assembly.
Gordon Lyons communicated in sign language during the first part of his speech.
Other developments
During the passage of the legislation, the Police Service of Northern Ireland announced a service to provide access to interpreters.
See also
*
Legal recognition of sign languages
The legal recognition of signed languages differs widely. In some jurisdictions (countries, states, provinces or regions), a signed language is recognised as an official language; in others, it has a protected status in certain areas (such as educ ...
*
Irish Sign Language Act 2017
The Irish Sign Language Act 2017 ( Act No. 13 of 2017; previously Bill No. 40 of 2017) is an Act of the Oireachtas (Irish parliament) which gives Irish Sign Language official legal status.
Background
Broadly, before the bill was passed there w ...
*
British Sign Language (Scotland) Act 2015
*
British Sign Language Act 2022
References
{{Reflist
Proposed laws of the United Kingdom
Language legislation in the United Kingdom
Legal recognition of sign languages
Irish Sign Language
British Sign Language
Children's rights in Northern Ireland
Disability legislation in the United Kingdom
Disability in Northern Ireland