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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 11 Mar 1997

Vol. 476 No. 2

Priority Questions. - Travelling Community Report.

Chris Flood

Question:

14 Mr. Flood asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform if he intends to implement as a matter of urgency recommendation CR.10.1 of the report of the Task Force on the Travelling Community which recommends that each Government Department, semi-State body, State agency, local authority, private sector and voluntary sector organisation adopt, implement and monitor an equal status policy appropriate to the nature of its function and that public and voluntary sector organisations and institutions be adequately resourced to meet their obligations in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6848/97]

It is for each of the bodies, both public and private sector, referred to in recommendation CR.10.1 to take the recommendation on board in its area of activity. The Equal Status Bill, 1997, will, when enacted, provide a legislative underpinning to ensure that organisations do not discriminate unfairly in relation to the supply of goods and services. I also draw the Deputy's attention to the proposal in the Equal Status Bill, 1997, for an equality authority which will have the general function of working towards the elimination of discrimination and promoting equality of opportunity. The Employment Equality Bill, 1996, also contains powers relating to the elimination of discrimination and promotion of equal opportunities for travellers in employment.

I thank the Minister for his reply. Is he concerned that the recommendations of the report of the Task Force on the Travelling Community, which was published in July 1995, have not been implemented? My question relates to equal status policy. Does the Minister agree that it would be appropriate for his Department to implement not just the recommendation referred to in the question, but also the other recommendations in the report? Does he also agree that the Government is making little effort to implement these recommendations on a co-ordinated basis? The Minister's reply with regard to recommendation CR.10.1 would seem to confirm this fact when he is unable to outline today the progress which has been made by Departments other than that made by his Department with regard to this most important issue for the travelling community.

I agree that it is a most important issue but surely Deputy Flood must agree it would not be possible for the entire responsibility to rest with the Department of Equality and Law Reform when one takes into account that there are many Departments and agencies involved. However, there is the interdepartmental group working on the report of the task force. It meets from time to time and examines the recommendations and the question of implementation among the Departments and agencies coming under the responsibility of individual Ministers and Departments.

It is open to Deputy Flood or, indeed, any Deputy to raise questions with any Minister with regard to his or her Department or, where that Minister has responsibility for agencies working under the Department's ambit, to examine the operation of equal status in the agency for which he or she has responsibility.

The Employment Equality Bill, 1996, and the Equal Status Bill, 1997, which are proceeding through the Houses of the Oireachtas, will have a major general input into the provision of equal status. The Equal Status Bill, 1997, will have general application. The Employment Equality Bill, 1996, has provision for equality reviews and action plans and gives powers to the new Equality Authority, which is to be set up under the provisions of the Equal Status Bill, 1997. That authority will play a major monitoring role and major powers will be devolved to it under these two Bills.

There is also provision for codes of practice on these issues and the legislation providing that will be particularly helpful. It may well be that codes of practice will be prepared which will provide rules for the application of equal status provisions to Departments and their agencies. All these things taken together are a positive sign and the two equality Bills, when enacted, will be a major source of progress in that regard.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

There is little more than two minutes to reach the third priority question which is in the name of Deputy Keogh. I will only allow a brief question lest Deputy Keogh's question falls.

Has the interdepartmental group, to which the Minister referred in the course of his reply, met recently? How frequently has it met in the past year? If that information is not available now, he might provide it to me later. Does the Minister's Department chair this group?

Yes. The group is chaired by my Department. I do not have information here about its meetings but I will make inquiries about it.

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