Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 15 Feb 2000

Vol. 514 No. 3

Written Answers. - Age Discrimination.

Richard Bruton

Question:

306 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the action, if any, he has taken to ensure that age discrimination in public and private sectors will be eradicated following the passage of the employment equality legislation. [4267/00]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue):

The Employment Equality Act, 1998, which came into operation on 18 October 1999, prohibits discrimination in relation to employment on nine grounds, including age, and covers employment in both the public and private sectors. The Act is comprehensive and deals with all areas relevant to employment, including access to employment, conditions of employment, remuneration, promotion and vocational training. The age provisions of the Act apply to persons between the ages of 18 years and 65 years, except in the case of vocational training, where the Act applies to persons over the minimum school leaving age.

The Act also provided for the establishment of the Equality Authority which replaced the Employment Equality Agency. The authority has established an advisory committee comprising social partners, academic experts and interest groups to advise and provide input into the content of its work in promoting equality for older people. Areas of focus will include giving visibility to equality issues for older people, setting the equality agenda for older people, and outli ning Equality Authority strategy to promote equality for older people.

In accordance with the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness, the recommendations emerging from the Equality Authority in relation to older people will be considered by the social partners to establish how they might be carried forward.