Dr. Iris Elliott:

I welcome the Deputy's information on the SME test on the socioeconomic ground. We note the response of the Minister, Deputy Foley, to a parliamentary question on 1 July this year. We also note that this was referred to when the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, CEDAW, was referenced. I draw the Deputy's attention to our comments, especially those on the SME test. We made specific recommendations, including that the State make public any equality impact assessments that have already been carried out under the general scheme. Clearly, given the volume and detail of advice provided by IHREC, civil society and other actors, a selection has been made of what will go forward in this first phase of reform. We would like to understand what impact assessment work has been done. When the Bill is published, we will also seek an equality impact assessment of the Bill.

Further, on the use of an SME test, we also seek an equality impact assessment and that a comment be provided on whether it is appropriate for an SME test to be a deciding factor on a ground in equality legislation. We would also like to understand the weight being given to the SME test. We would also like to have a detailed description of the methodology so we can independently assess the process that has been gone through. The Deputy will be aware from contributions that the socioeconomic ground has taken a long time. All I can say is that it is frustrating that there is now another phase that has to be gone through, which we did not anticipate until we were told about it this year.