The Register of Irish Sign Language Interpreters (RISLI) been established for the purpose of maintaining a register of Irish Sign Language interpreters, a voluntary, national, professional register.

The registration system is referenced in the 2017 Irish Sign Language Act (referred to as an ‘accreditation scheme’).

RISLI operates as an independent organisation and is funded and supported by Citizens Information Board.

RISLI acknowledges the pivotal role of Sign Language Interpreting Service (SLIS) in researching and developing RISLI.

RISLI Aims

• Protect users of interpreting services, primarily the Deaf community and service providers, by establishing and maintaining a standards-based registration and quality assurance system for Irish sign language interpreters. This will ensure that:
  • there is a standard benchmark for the provision of Irish Sign Language interpreting services, which acknowledges the importance of confidentiality in service provision.
  • service users (particularly vulnerable service users) have access to a professional and high-quality standard of interpreting service.
  • the integrity of service providers is protected.
• Set the standard for the provision of accredited Irish Sign Language interpreting required by all public bodies and courts following the Irish Sign Language Act 2017 and any relevant future legislation.
• Support public bodies, courts, and other service providers by providing public access to the Register.
• Support professional Irish Sign Language interpreters to meet and maintain professional standards.
• Promote social inclusion of Irish Sign Language users by supporting the use of registered Irish Sign Language interpreters, including promoting access to public bodies and the courts.

Values

• Social inclusion and access for Deaf sign language users
• Quality within sign language interpreting
• Availability of sign language interpreting in Ireland
• Support for service providers, particularly public services to facilitate the use of sign language interpreting services
• Promote the integrity of ISL interpreting in the public interest.

Principles

The register promotes best practice, setting principles drawing on national and international standards for Sign Language Interpreting. Register principles are:

• Balance: actions will be appropriate to the risks posed and costs identified
• Accountable: operations are based on rational and sound decisions
• Fair: rules and standards will be implemented fairly
• Focus: regulation will focus on the problem and minimise side effects
• Agile: endeavour to anticipate and adapt to change as required
• Transparent: regulations and processes will be open and user friendly
• Embedded: account will be taken of Irish context, the Irish Deaf community, and stakeholders