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| Long title | A Bill to make provision about the status of, and for the advancement of, British Sign Language and Irish Sign Language. |
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| Introduced by | Gordon Lyons MLA, Minister for Communities |
Status: Pending | |
| History of passage through the Assembly | |
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 and Irish Sign Language.
On 1 December 2015, Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure Carál Ní Chuilín announced plans to establish a framework to promote sign language. [1] In March 2016, the Department for Communities consulted on "Sign Language Framework". [2] This framework contained policy proposals for legislation. [2] The 2020 New Decade, New Approach agreement included a committemnt to the introduction of legislation relating to sign language. [3]
The British Sign Language (Scotland) Act 2015, Irish Sign Language Act 2017, British Sign Language Act 2022 were passed. [4] In January 2025, a member of the Senedd launched a consultation on a Senedd bill which would promote British Sign Language. [5]
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. [6]
In February 2025, the bill was introduced to the Assembly. [7]
Gordon Lyons communicated in sign language during the first part of his speech in the stage . [6]
During the passage of the legislation, the Police Service of Northern Ireland announced a service to provide access to interpreters. [8]