Ms Eilis Barry:

In addition to the directives requiring the enhancement of the equality functions of IHREC and the WRC, it is still important to look at the exemptions under the Equal Status Act because the State, through exemptions, is largely exempt from the legislation. If one wants the socioeconomic ground to be effective, which everybody does, it is important the State's functions are brought within the equality legislation. One does not want to introduce the ground, bring a case to the WRC only for the State to say it is its functions and is not covered in the legislation. That is a vital part of the whole infrastructure, that the State be brought firmly within the scope of prohibition of discrimination. One has to look at the section 14 exemption and the definition of services in section 5, which only extends to the provision of services but does not include the functions of the State. To give life to the socioeconomic ground and other grounds, it is important that this is looked at.