Vol. 457 No. 5
19 Mr. Molloy asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform the progress, if any, he has made in ensuring that there are adequate measures in place to deal with sexual discrimination in the workplace; and the plans, if any, he has to give a legal status to the code of practice on measures to protect the dignity of men and women at work. [15580/95]
The Anti-Discrimination (Pay) Act, 1974, and the Employment Equality Act, 1977, prohibit discrimination in employment on grounds of sex and provide for a system of redress for persons who may have been the subject of discrimination. The Employment Equality Agency has statutory responsibility to work towards the elimination of discrimination and to promote equality of opportunity between men and women in employment.
Existing legislative and structural arrangements for equality have been reviewed since I took up office, and new legislation is at an advanced stage of preparation. The case for legal recognition of codes of practice has been fully examined in the course of the review and I am positively disposed towards adopting that approach in the new Bill.
