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What we do

The Regulatory Centre for Irish Sign Language Interpreters Ireland CLG has been established for the purpose of maintaining the Register of Irish Sign Language Interpreters (RISLI), a voluntary, national, professional register.

The registration system is referenced in the 2017 Irish Sign Language Act (referred to as an ‘accreditation scheme’) and the National Disability Inclusion Strategy 2017 – 2021.

RISLI Aims

  • Establish and maintain a standards-based registration system for Irish Sign Language Interpreters to ensure protection primarily for the Deaf community and service providers.
  • Set the standards for the provision of Irish Sign Language interpreting that all public bodies require.
  • Support public bodies through access to a public register of interpreters.
  • Support professional Irish Sign Language interpreters to meet and maintain standards.
  • Promote social inclusion of Irish Sign Language users by supporting the use of registered interpreters including access to public bodies.

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

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

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

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