RISLI-Registered · Irish Sign Language Act 2017
Irish Sign Language Interpreting for Dublin & Ireland
Professional ISL interpreters for HSE consultations, Courts Service hearings, workplace meetings, education, conferences, and Garda station attendance. Registered under the Sign Language Interpreting Service (SLIS) RISLI framework.
- HSE consultations, GP surgeries, hospital appointments
- District, Circuit, High Court, IPAT, WRC, family law lists
- University lectures, DCU / TCD / UCD access supports, SNA settings
- Workplace meetings, HR investigations, board meetings
- Conferences, streamed events, panel discussions
Irish Sign Language: A Native Language of Ireland
Irish Sign Language (ISL) is the native language of the Deaf community in Ireland. It is a natural, visual-spatial language with its own grammar, syntax, vocabulary and regional variation, and it is not a signed version of English or of Irish (Gaeilge). The Irish Sign Language Act 2017 recognised ISL as a language of the State and established a statutory right to ISL interpretation in the provision of public services, including healthcare, education, criminal justice and access to information from public bodies.
ISL is a distinct language from British Sign Language (BSL) used in the UK and from American Sign Language (ASL). A Deaf ISL user cannot be served by a BSL interpreter, and vice versa; the two languages share some hand-shapes but not syntax, discourse structure or lexicon. Where a Deaf UK visitor uses BSL, we route to a BSL interpreter through our UK desk. Where a Deaf visitor uses ASL or International Sign, we brief the client on the correct booking route before we confirm.
Pricing
ISL interpreting is quoted per session by duration, setting and whether the assignment requires one interpreter or a rotating pair.
HSE and Courts Service bookings invoiced under the applicable public-body framework. Educational institutions on 30-day terms. Same interpreter continuity available on multi-session cases where scheduling permits.
How It Works
Four steps from first enquiry to confirmed assignment.
Enquiry
Date, duration, setting (HSE, court, workplace, education, conference), whether the assignment needs a single interpreter or a pair. Two minutes on the form, WhatsApp or a phone call.
Match
We approach RISLI-registered interpreters with the right subject-matter background. Confirmation within 4 working hours for standard bookings; sooner for medical and Garda call-outs.
Prep Pack
Agenda, prior correspondence, technical vocabulary, presenter slides for conferences. The interpreter reads in ahead of the session so subject-specific terminology is locked before arrival.
Session & Feedback
On-site or on the video link. Post-session note back to the booking body if requested: attendance timestamps, any technical issues, and glossary held for continuity on the same client's future bookings.
Where ISL Interpreting Fits Best
Six settings across Ireland where ISL interpreters are called most often, all covered under the Irish Sign Language Act 2017 statutory right to ISL access.
HSE Healthcare
GP surgeries, hospital outpatient clinics, mental health assessments, physiotherapy, dental treatment, maternity care and A&E follow-up. Every Deaf ISL user has a statutory right to an interpreter for HSE-provided care.
- Primary care and GP consultations
- Hospital outpatient specialist clinics
- Mental health and CAMHS sessions
- Maternity and antenatal appointments
Courts and Tribunals
District, Circuit and High Court hearings, IPAT and WRC tribunals, and family law lists. The Courts Service arranges interpretation on request; we are one of the providers regularly booked. Paired interpreters used for hearings over two hours.
- District Court criminal and civil lists
- Circuit Family Court applications
- IPAT and WRC hearings
- High Court and jury trials
Education
Third-level (TCD, UCD, DCU, UCC, University of Galway) access supports, postgraduate viva voce examinations, adult and further education (SOLAS ETB) courses, and Special Needs Assistant settings in mainstream schools.
- University lectures and seminars
- PhD viva voce and thesis defence
- SOLAS ETB adult courses
- Mainstream school SNA support
Workplace and HR
Interviews, induction, performance reviews, disciplinary and grievance meetings, HR investigations, and health-and-safety inductions on construction and industrial sites. Employer duty of reasonable accommodation under the Employment Equality Acts covered.
- Job interviews and onboarding
- Grievance and disciplinary meetings
- Reasonable accommodation reviews
- Safety inductions and toolbox talks
Conferences and Events
Paired interpreters rotating every 15 to 20 minutes for accuracy. Camera framing, lighting and lower-third placement agreed with the AV team ahead of streamed events so remote Deaf viewers see the interpreter clearly.
- Industry and academic conferences
- Streamed and hybrid events
- Panel discussions and Q&A
- Award ceremonies and public lectures
Garda Stations and Legal Process
Custody Regulations 2019 (S.I. 119/2019) require an interpreter for a detained Deaf ISL user. We are contacted directly by station members in charge and by solicitors on the Solicitor-Nominated Panel. Response time varies by interpreter availability but is prioritised.
- Station interviews under caution
- Solicitor-client consultations
- Charge sheet reading and bail application
- Section 4 CJA 1984 extended detention
Irish Sign Language Act 2017: A Statutory Right
The Irish Sign Language Act 2017 recognised ISL as a language of the State and gave Deaf people specific statutory rights: to use ISL in court proceedings (Section 4), to receive ISL interpretation in the provision of public services (Section 6), and to have public bodies actively support access to ISL (Sections 7 to 10). The Act placed a duty on Government Departments, State agencies, and bodies wholly or mainly funded from the public purse to prepare for and provide ISL access as a matter of course.
For public bodies the practical consequence is that budget for ISL interpreting is expected as part of service provision, not treated as an exception. The Sign Language Interpreting Service (SLIS), funded through the Citizens Information Board, coordinates access at national level and maintains the Register of Irish Sign Language Interpreters (RISLI). We work within that framework: every interpreter we assign is RISLI-listed and bound by the RISLI professional code of conduct.
Confidentiality and Interpreter Conduct
Every ISL interpreter we assign signs an NDA and is bound by the RISLI code of professional conduct. Everything expressed in the assignment is treated as confidential to the parties present. In a solicitor-client consultation, privilege attaches to the interpreter as an agent of the solicitor in the same way as a spoken-language interpreter. In HSE and mental health settings, the interpreter is bound by the same confidentiality standards that apply to the health professional.
The interpreter is neutral and does not participate in the substance of the meeting. Direct address between the parties is preserved: the interpreter renders what is said and does not paraphrase, summarise or advocate. Where cultural context around Deaf community norms would help the hearing party understand, the interpreter may flag it briefly, but the substantive content is always the parties' own.
What Our Clients Say
Feedback from HSE service managers, Dublin solicitors and Irish universities.
"The ISL interpreter was on time for a District Court remand hearing, briefed on the file, and worked cleanly through a full afternoon list. The registrar noticed and thanked us afterwards."
Solicitor, criminal defence practice, Dublin 7
"We book Tatkowski for the outpatient clinics where a Deaf ISL patient is scheduled. Reliable, and the interpreter reads the file properly before the consultation."
Service manager, HSE outpatient department
"Paired interpreters at a two-day conference. Rotation was smooth, the Deaf attendees said the register held up across the whole event, and the AV team said the lower-third framing worked for the livestream."
Events lead, Irish academic institution
Book an ISL Interpreter
Short form or WhatsApp. Emergency medical or Garda call-outs: use the number below directly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Irish Sign Language (ISL)?
Irish Sign Language (ISL) is the native, indigenous language of the Deaf community in Ireland. It is a distinct visual-spatial language with its own grammar, syntax and vocabulary, unrelated to English or Irish (Gaeilge) as spoken languages. ISL is legally recognised under the Irish Sign Language Act 2017. It is not a signed version of English, and it is a different language from British Sign Language (BSL), American Sign Language (ASL) or International Sign.
How much notice do you need to book an ISL interpreter?
The Register of Irish Sign Language Interpreters (RISLI) covers a relatively small number of qualified professionals nationally, so early booking matters. Standard bookings for HSE appointments, solicitor consultations and workplace meetings are confirmed with 3 to 5 working days' notice; longer conferences and multi-day court hearings need 2 to 3 weeks. Emergency medical and Garda call-outs are handled on availability.
Do you provide ISL for medical appointments and A&E?
Yes. HSE hospitals, GP surgeries and primary care centres book ISL interpreters through us for scheduled consultations. The Irish Sign Language Act 2017 established a statutory right to ISL interpretation in the provision of public services, including healthcare. For A&E and out-of-hours settings, a video-remote ISL interpreter can join via a mobile device where an on-site interpreter is not available in time.
Can I book an ISL interpreter for a court hearing or Garda station?
Yes. The Irish Sign Language Act 2017 gives Deaf people the right to use ISL in court proceedings, and the Courts Service arranges ISL interpretation on request. We cover the District Court, Circuit Court, High Court, IPAT, WRC and family law lists. Garda station attendance under the Custody Regulations 2019 (S.I. 119/2019) is also covered where the detained person is a Deaf ISL user.
How does ISL interpreting work at conferences and multi-day events?
ISL interpreters at conferences work in pairs and rotate every 15 to 20 minutes to preserve accuracy. A staging position with clear sightlines to the speaker and to the Deaf attendees is agreed with the organiser in advance. For streamed events, we work with your AV team on camera framing, lighting and lower-third placement so remote Deaf viewers see the interpreter clearly.
What is the difference between ISL and Signed English?
ISL is a natural language of the Irish Deaf community with its own grammar. Signed English uses ISL vocabulary but follows English word order and structure; it is sometimes used in education but is not a first language for most Deaf ISL users. Where a client is a Deaf ISL user, an ISL interpreter is used. Where a Deaf client uses Signed English or is a late-deafened English user, a note-taker or lipspeaker may be more appropriate.
Do you provide BSL, ASL, International Sign or Signed English?
This page covers Irish Sign Language (ISL). British Sign Language (BSL) is a different language and is covered by our UK service. American Sign Language (ASL) can be arranged on request via international associates. International Sign is available for multilateral conferences on advance notice. Signed English and lipspeaking are separate accommodations we can source for late-deafened English users.
Are your ISL interpreters on the RISLI register?
Yes. The interpreters we assign are on the Register of Irish Sign Language Interpreters (RISLI) maintained by the Sign Language Interpreting Service (SLIS). RISLI listing is the recognised professional standard in Ireland and is what HSE, the Courts Service and public bodies require. Interpreter names are shared with the booking body ahead of the assignment where the setting requires it.
