Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 March 2025
585. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice the percentage of social media video accessible, such as providing the information or activities posted on each of his Department’s social media accounts, or the social media accounts of public bodies and agencies that operate under its remit, including closed captioning and subtitling and Irish Sign Language translations, between 1 January 2024 and 31 December 2024, inclusive. [14056/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department, as part of its Interim Customer Charter and Customer Service Action Plan 2023 - 2025, has committed to fulfilling its 'Public Sector Equality and Human Rights Duty' as set out in Section 42 of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014. This includes a commitment to provide Irish Sign Language (ISL) translation services where customers need them, as per the Irish Sign Language Act 2017, and to use closed captions (subtitles) in all video messages.
Between 1 January 2024 and 31 December 2024, 36% of posts made on my Department’s social media accounts contained video in some format. Of the total amount of videos posted, 98% contained text-based content and/or captioning/subtitles.
Information from those agencies under the aegis of my Department that have posted videos on social media accounts is set out in the table below.
|
Agency |
% Closed Captions/Subtitles |
|
An Garda Síochána |
96* |
|
Courts Service of Ireland |
1.4** |
|
Garda Inspectorate |
100 |
|
Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission |
100 |
|
Insolvency Service of Ireland |
57 |
|
Irish Prison Service |
26 |
|
Legal Aid Board |
100 |
|
Legal Services Regulatory Authority |
75*** |
|
Policing Authority |
100 |
|
Probation Service |
100 |
* There were 6 live streamed events during 2024. 5 (83%) had a live Irish Sign Language (ISL) interpreter.
** The majority of videos were provided on platforms which allowed the users to choose a subtitle option where required.
*** 25% of videos posted on social media had ISL interpretation.
The text and audio versions of the Interim Customer Charter can be accessed at this link - www.gov.ie/en/publication/76c39-department-of-justice-interim-customer-charter/
An Irish Sign Language (ISL) version can be accessed here - www.youtube.com/embed/HzG5Ze_U21w
