Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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-----for women and girls that will also respond to the recommendations of the recent Citizens' Assembly on Gender Equality.

In 2021, I announced that I would be conducting a review of the Equal Status Act 2000 and the Employment Equality Acts, 1998 to 2011. The review, which is ongoing, is examining the operation of the equality Acts from the perspective of the person taking a claim under its redress mechanisms. It is further examining the degree to which those experiencing discrimination are aware of the legislation and whether there are practical or other obstacles which preclude or deter them from taking an action.

In March 2022, I announced the development of a national equality data strategy by the Central Statistics Office, CSO, and my Department, that would put in place a strategic approach to improving the collection, disaggregation and use of equality data.

My Department continues to ensure children and young people have a voice in their individual and collective everyday lives to our various participation structures and supports. In particular, my Department has a real expertise now in youth participation, bringing the voices of young people to decision-making and policy work. The Department of Education has recently also established a youth participation office within its Department. That is hugely important. There is a very real commitment within my Department to implementing the principles of the sustainable development goals.

Although she is not present, I take this opportunity to thank and give my best wishes to the Cathaoirleach, Deputy Kathleen Funchion, recently elected to represent Ireland South in the European Parliament. Deputy Funchion has always been a model of fairness in chairing this committee. She has advanced the policy work of this committee at all times and tried to keep herself above the partisan fray. She has been an extremely effective committee chair. She had to chair some difficult pre-legislative scrutiny processes, particularly in ensuring survivors and relatives of people who were in mother and baby homes and county home institutions were able to input into some of the legislation that we addressed earlier in the Dáil term. She always did that extremely well and with great fairness. She will represent Ireland very well in the European Parliament and will be missed in Dáil Éireann.