IDS responds to Pat Kenny show – AI will not replace human interpreters
16th January 2026
16th January 2026
The Irish Deaf Society (IDS) expresses serious concern regarding remarks made by guidance counsellor and Irish Times education columnist Mr. Brian Mooney on Newstalk FM on 14th January 2026, in which it was suggested that artificial intelligence (AI) is likely to replace Irish Sign Language (ISL) interpreting roles.
“At a time when Ireland is experiencing a critical shortage of qualified ISL interpreters, such remarks are especially damaging. Deaf people across the country already face persistent barriers to access in education, healthcare, employment and public services due to this shortage. Suggesting that the profession is likely to disappear discourages prospective students from pursuing ISL interpreting as a career and threatens to further exacerbate existing access gaps.”
– Lianne Quigley, Irish Deaf Society Chairperson and Spokesperson
Mr. Mooney’s comments were not well informed and inaccurate, harmful and deeply concerning for the Deaf community, ISL users and those currently working in or considering entering the ISL interpreting profession. When those with influence speculate inaccurately about AI “taking over” ISL interpreting, it contributes to misunderstanding and devalues the profession.
ISL is a visual language rooted in Deaf culture and human interaction. Professional ISL interpreters convey meaning, intent, emotion, cultural nuance and context in real time, often in complex, sensitive and high-stakes environments such as healthcare, education, legal settings, employment and public services. Current AI technologies are fundamentally incapable of replicating this human expertise, linguistic fluency and ethical judgement. The importance of qualified professional ISL interpreters is outlined in the ISL Act 2017 and the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (UNCRPD).
The suggestion that AI could “take over” ISL interpreters contradicts Deaf-led national and international consensus. Deaf representative organisations, including IDS, the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) and the European Union of the Deaf (EUD), have been clear – AI and signing avatars must never replace qualified human interpreters, particularly in medical, legal, educational or other critical contexts. Misuse of AI in these settings risks serious communication failures and harm to Deaf people’s rights, safety and dignity.
Ethical discussions on AI and sign languages focus on supportive and limited uses, such as supplementing access to basic public information, and only when such technologies are Deaf-led, rights-based, transparent and carefully regulated. AI should be understood as a potential tool to support access in very specific circumstances, not as a substitute for human professionals or a solution to systemic underinvestment in interpreting services.
ENDS
Contact: John Sherwin CEO – 089 427 8663
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