Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 September 2021
545. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Education if her Department is promoting any policies to address gender inequalities faced by male and female primary school teachers seeking promotion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42189/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2015, which commenced on 1 January 2016, provided for certain changes in the exclusion of discrimination on particular grounds in certain employments (i.e. educational or medical institutions maintained, in whole or in part, by monies provided by the Oireachtas) by amending Section 37 of the Employment Equality Act, 1998.
In Department Circular 0044/2019, section 6.7(vi) of Chapter 3 "Appointment Procedures for Assistant Principals and Deputy Principals (Internal Competition)" sets out that "Interview Boards must ensure that questions asked at interview do not lead to discrimination on the grounds set out in Section 6(2) of the Employment Equality Acts, 1998-2015 i.e. gender, civil status, family status, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, race and member of the Travelling Community".
Also, section 7.7 of Chapter 4 "Appointment Procedures for Principal & Deputy Principal (Open Competition)" of this circular states "Advertisements must not indicate or be reasonably understood to indicate an intention to discriminate on the grounds as set out in Section 6(2) of the Employment Equality Acts, 1998-2015 i.e. gender, civil status, family status, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, race and member of the Travelling Community. Special care should be taken in drafting the advertisement, especially in indicating the gender category of the school, so as to ensure that it will be understood by all that both men and women are eligible to apply and will be given equal consideration".
