{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/sign-language-act-northern-ireland-2026/section-1",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/sign-language-act-northern-ireland-2026/section-1.json",
  "legislation": "nia/2026/7",
  "legislation_title": "Sign Language Act (Northern Ireland) 2026",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/sign-language-act-northern-ireland-2026",
  "path": "section/1",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "1",
  "heading": "Official recognition of sign languages",
  "text": "(1) Each of these is recognised as a language of Northern Ireland (and as having equal status with the other)—\n(a) British Sign Language (as known by that name),\n(b) Irish Sign Language (as known by that name).\n(2) Nothing in this Part affects the operation of either of these (particularly as relevant to rights of individuals in the deaf community)—\n(a) any rule of law, or\n(b) any other statutory provision (within the meaning given by section 1(f) of the Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954).",
  "extent": "N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I1",
      "text": "S. 1 not in operation at Royal Assent, see s. 15(1)(b)"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I2",
      "text": "S. 1 in operation at 23.9.2026 by S.R. 2026/162, art. 2(a)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/nia/2026/7/section/1",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T20:18:57.659830+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}