There are no outstanding EU directives, regulations or conventions for which my Department has responsibility.
On future requirements, officials of my Department are working closely with their counterparts in the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform on two directives, for which that Department has primary responsibility, but which will require some legislative adjustments in my Department.
These are Directive 2000/43/EC, known as the Race Directive, and Directive 2000/78/EC, known as the Framework Employment Directive, and they will require amending legislation addressing the equality aspect of occupational pensions. In line with the commitment given in the proposed social partnership agreement, I plan to progress the drafting of the necessary legislation this year, in consultation with the Pensions Board. The proposed legislation will provide a general framework for combating discrimination on the nine grounds of race, religion or belief, disability, age, sexual orientation, marital status, family status and being a member of the travelling community.