Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 June 2022
667. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the measures that his Department is undertaking to ensure members of the LGBT+ community are encouraged and supported to make complaints regarding discrimination they experience in their workplace; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34340/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraDiscrimination on specified grounds, including sexual orientation and gender, is prohibited by law in the field of employment under the Employment Equality Acts 1998 to 2021 and in the supply of and access to goods and services under the Equal Status Acts 2000 to 2018. Complaints regarding breaches of equality legislation may be pursued before the Workplace Relations Commission, which publishes statistics regularly on its decisions in regard to equality complaints disaggregated by discriminatory ground. The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, which is independent in the exercise of its statutory functions, provides information on taking complaints under these acts and supports strategic litigation in this regard, including on behalf of members of the LGBT+ community.
I am conducting a review of the Equality Acts to examine, among other issues, the functioning of the Acts and their effectiveness in combatting discrimination and promoting equality. The Review will include the Programme for Government's commitment to amend the gender ground so that someone discriminated against on the basis of their gender identity is able to avail of this legislation.
One of the four thematic pillars of the National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy 2019-2021 is that LGBTI+ people are treated equally. The outcomes pursued under this theme include that LGBTI+ people are aware of the supports and redress mechanisms available to them where discrimination has occurred. This is being advanced through two specific actions. Action 9.1, which is led by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, aims to raise awareness of the role of the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) in dealing with complaints of discrimination under the Equal Status Acts and the Employment Equality Acts. Action 9.2, led by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth in partnership with the Free Legal Aid Centres (FLAC), aims to provide tailored legal advice and advocacy to LGBTI+ people through a specialised legal advice clinic.
