Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 October 2022
135. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on the review taking place on equality legislation; if he can share any initial findings from the public consultation element; the timeline by which he expects amending legislation to be ready; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50734/22]
View answerIn July 2021, Minister O’Gorman launched a public consultation process as part of the review of the Equality Acts (Equal Status Acts 2000-2018 and the Employment Equality Acts 1998-2015) to examine the functioning of the Acts and their effectiveness in combatting discrimination and promoting equality.
The review will examine the operation of the Acts from the perspective of the person taking a claim under its redress mechanisms. It will examine the degree to which those experiencing discrimination are aware of the legislation and whether there are practical or other obstacles which preclude or deter them from taking an action.
The Department invited written submissions to the public consultation from in July 2021, and was pleased to receive an extensive response to the consultation. The public were asked for their views on the functioning and accessibility of the acts; the scope of the current grounds; whether existing exemptions should be modified or removed; and whether the legislation adequately addresses intersectionality. Submissions are currently being analysed by officials in the Department, with the aim of publishing a report before the end of the year.
It is intended that some legislative proposals arising from the review will be brought forward in 2023. However, as the review has not yet completed, it is not yet possible to indicate the nature or scope of those proposals.
