Theresa Ahearn
Question:292 Mrs. T. Ahearn asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when the Employment Equality Bill will come into operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11534/99]
Written Answers. - Proposed Legislation.
I have set 1 September 1999 as the target date for implementation of the Employment Equality Act, 1998.
The Act outlaws discrimination on nine distinct grounds. The grounds are – gender, marital status, family status, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, race and membership of the traveller community. The scope of the Act is comprehensive and deals with discrimination in work related areas, from vocational training to access to employment and employment conditions generally, including training, work experience and advancement within employment.
As well as outlawing discrimination in employment, the Act makes provision for a new infrastructure to underpin the statutory rights being provided under both employment equality and equal status legislation. The new infrastructure will consist of the equality authority, to replace the existing employment equality agency, and the office of director of equality investigations to provide redress of first instance.
Work is ongoing to secure staff and other resources to establish the new organisations including the agreement by the Office of Public Works of the terms of a lease for a property in Clonmel Street, off Harcourt Street. I appointed the equality authority on a designate basis on 8 March in order that it can also undertake the necessary preparations for implementation day.