Michael P. Kitt
Question:10 Mr. M. Kitt asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform if he has any legislative proposals in relation to access to private fitness clubs.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Equality Legislation.
Martin Cullen
Question:28 Mr. Cullen asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform the status of the proposed Equal Status Legislation; if he intends to introduce measures so that Ireland may ratify the UN Anti Racial Discrimination Convention; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:32 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform the extent to which equality requirements are now being met in terms of equal pay, equal access to services and facilities regardless of gender, age or social position; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose, to take Questions Nos. 10, 28 and 32 together.
The Anti-Discrimination (Pay) Act, 1974, requires an employer to pay to employees, irrespective of gender, equal pay for equal work or work of equal value.
Under the Programme for a Partnership Government, I am committed to the introduction of broad-ranging equality legislation that will cover a wide range of grounds, including sex, marital or parental status, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, race, colour, nationality, and national or ethnic origins, including membership of the travelling community.
The legislation will consist of two Bills, one dealing with employment and the other with non-employment areas, including access to facilities, services and clubs. I hope to bring forward both Bills in 1994. This legislation will facilitate our ratification of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.
With regard to access to clubs, is the Minister aware that some applicants are told by clubs, including new clubs, that the membership is full and that sometimes early closing dates are given as a reason for not granting people membership of clubs? Will the Minister deal with these issues in the legislation?
The question of access to clubs will be considered in the context of the legislation.
Does the Minister know if any of his ministerial colleagues are currently members of clubs which exclude women from membership? Has the Government adopted any approach to be taken publicly in that regard? Will he agree that any member of the Government who is a member of a club which currently excludes women from membership should resign form such a club or take action within the club to effect the necessary change to ensure that equality applies?
I am not aware of which members of the Government are members of clubs.
Will the Minister agree that the ethics in government Bill could include a requirement that members of the Government and Ministers disclose their membership of clubs?
That sounds like an interesting idea. Deputy Keogh might consider putting down a question to the appropriate Minister.
Having regard to his reply to my question and his enthusiasm for writing letters to Opposition parties to ascertain their views on different issues, I suggest to the Minister that he should now write to each of his colleagues in Government indicating that the Government should disapprove of membership of clubs to which women are not given an equal right of access and that the Ministers concerned might examine the clubs of which they are members with a view to taking appropriate action.
I do not think it is either appropriate or necessary for me to do that. Members of the Government are aware of the ethical requirements in this regard in the guidelines for Government. The legislation I am preparing is a different matter — I have given an indication of what it covers in the Programme for a Partnership Government. The preparation of the legislation is proceeding apace in my Department. The legislation will have certain follow-on consequences and all the appropriate people concerned will take note of these when the Bills are, I hope, published early next year.
I am wondering if my hearing is good. Did the Minister say it is not appropriate for him to comment on whether Government Ministers are members of clubs——
I did not say that.
——which exclude women? Does he accept that that is a fair interpretation of what he said?
We are having repetition now.
I said that I do not have information as to whether any member of the Government belongs to a particular club and do not consider it my role to undertake detective work in inquiring as to what clubs Ministers belong. That is entirely a matter for them. They know the Government guidelines on this issue and I have no doubt that they comply with them.
There are no Government guidelines on this issue.
What Government guidelines?
Question No. 11, please.
It has to do with the ethos of the Government——
Of course, the Taoiseach's position on this issue is very suspect.
Putting questions across the floor from a seated position is not in order.
It is open to any Deputy to table a question to any Minister, if he or she is so minded.