CISLI Committee Member, Amanda Mohan, recently attended a meeting called by Gerrie O’Grady of Cork Deaf Association with TD Caomhín O Chaoláin of Sinn Féin.
Deputy Ó Chaoláin is the Chairperson of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice and Equality. This Committee recently produced an extremely positive Report on the Formal Recognition of Irish Sign Language.
Also in the group were John Bosco Conama representing Irish Deaf Society, Prof Lorraine Leeson from Centre for Deaf Studies, Breda Bronsan of Cork Deaf Club, Linda Rankin of Cork Deaf Enterprises, Willie White of Kerry Deaf Resource Centre, and Andrew Geary of CDA (and a parent of a deaf child).
We had a very productive meeting in relation to the ISL Bill, and following the meeting, a short Briefing Note was produced for use in the campaign and in lobbying local TDs and Senators. We would ask that CISLI members and interpreters use this briefing note and communicate with Senators (especially Fine Gael, Labour and Independents) and ask them to support the ISL Bill! A list of senators can be found here.
We will continue to fight for ISL recognition alongside our partner organisations, under the direction of the campaign leader the Irish Deaf Society, and will feed back whenever we can! Please help out by contacting your local and national political representatives!
