The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) has come under fire for not delivering a single TV programme this year with sign language presentation.

Organisations representing deaf people say it is further evidence that the BAI is failing in its duty to treat all citizens equally and simply does not care about people who are deaf.

The BAI says it strongly encourages programme makers to include sign language presentation.

Brendan Lennon is head of information at DeafHear.

He says the authority's Sound and Vision grant scheme is funded with public money - and is obliged to treat all citizens equally:

Eddie Redmond, Chief Executive of the Irish Deaf Society, said, “even though it is in the Programme for Government to examine ways to recognise Irish Sign Language, the BAI continue to ignore the rights of the Deaf Community. They seem to favour exclusion over inclusion.”