Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 July 2015
31. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her views on the rights of non-religious and minority faith persons, specifically in the context of a recent review of that issue by the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. [27075/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraInsofar as my area of Ministerial responsibility is concerned, I can assure the Deputy that we are robust in our protection of the rights of non-religious and minority faith persons. We have strong legislative protection against discrimination on 9 grounds, including religious belief, in the Employment Equality Acts, which cover discrimination in the workplace, and the Equal Status Acts, which provide for protection against discrimination in the provision of goods and services. The legislation is designed to promote equality, prohibit discrimination – direct, indirect and by association – and victimisation, and allow positive action measures to ensure full equality across the nine grounds. Our legislation also provides for remedies for those who have suffered discrimination.
As the Deputy will be aware, Article 44 of the Constitution specifically protects religious freedom, along with the right to freedom of expression of convictions and opinions.
Questions relating to these rights in the context of the education system are a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Education.
