Vol. 402 No. 8
7 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Labour if, in the light of his comments to Dáil Éireann on 28 June 1990 when he indicated that it was his aim to bring a Bill before Dáil Éireann prior to the end of this year to update the Anti-Discrimination (Pay) Act, 1974, he still expects to meet that deadline; when the Bill will be published; its main provisions; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Proposals to amend the employment equality legislation are being finalised. I will be bringing my proposals to Government very soon and intend to bring a Bill before Dáil Éireann as soon as possible after that. It would not be appropriate at this stage to comment on detailed provisions of legislation.
Can I take it from the Minister's reply that he accepts that the equality legislation is now outdated, defective and inadequate to meet the needs, and that very little has been achieved over the lifetime of the legislation since 1974? Does the Minister accept that since it is a fact that low pay tends to be concentrated in all female employments, the provision in existing legislation requiring a male comparator makes nonsense of that legislation and is that one specific provision he will deal with in the new legislation?
Deputy Rabbitte is unfair having regard to all the work that has been done under this legislation. The Deputy's adjectives are over-strong as a lot of good work has been done since 1974 and still is being done. At the same time I acknowledge, as I did some months back, that the Act can be improved. It will be updated on the basis of experience in the courts and elsewhere, of employment equality officers, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and others, since its enactment. Let me say for the information of the House that it was felt, following discussions with the social partners, the Labour Court and equality officers that it would make more sense to bring the two Acts, the 1974 Act and the Employment Equality Act, 1977, together. I hope the proposals we are now working on will lead to the bringing forward of one single updated Act. Finally, I agree with the last point made by the Deputy.
Would it be in order to press the Minister to give a date by which this legislation might come before the House or to say when it might be published?
Realistically, it will have to be the New Year. I will have proposals before the Government fairly shortly. We have had discussions with the Employment Equality Agency in regard to finalising these proposals.
Can we expect the legislation, then, in the next session?
Yes, during the Christmas-Easter session.
I would also like to stress the urgency attached to the need to update both Acts and would welcome the amalgamation of both. May I ask the Minister without expecting him to give away too much detail, if, because of the urgency attached to the need to update these Acts, provision will be made for positive action? I would like to think that having waited so long, updating would form an integral part of the changes.
The issues under discussion are evident and, again, the Employment Equality Agency are my guardian and adviser on many of these matters. While I will not be able to take on board all of the major issues, I will be able to take on board many of them.
