Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 11 Mar 1993

Vol. 427 No. 8

Written Answers. - Elimination of Discrimination.

Alan Shatter

Question:

202 Mr. Shatter and Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform when he will introduce legislation to ratify the UN convention ending all forms of discrimination; the way in which the provisions of this convention will be enforced here; and if criminal sanctions will be involved.

Minister for Equality and Law Reform (Mr. Taylor)

In keeping with the commitment in the Programme for a Partnership Government, legislation is being prepared in my Department which will prohibit discrimination on a wide range of grounds including race, colour and national or ethnic origin.

This legislation is being brought forward as soon as possible, and in order to achieve early progress I propose to extend the prohibition of discrimination in employment to include these grounds in the current review of employment equality legislation. Equal Status legislation will follow and will seek to prohibit discrimination in education, the provision of goods, services and facilities and in the disposal of accommodation or other premises.

In pursuing these legislative measures I will examine the extent to which I can provide for the outlawing of all forms of racial discrimination and thereby enable the ratification by Ireland of the United Nations' International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. In doing so, I expect to build on the work done already by the interdepartmental committee established to examine measures to allow ratification of the UN Convention which has been chaired by the Office of the Attorney General. The methods of enforcement and sanctions which might be used will be considered in the context of the preparation of the legislation referred to above.