Mr. Ciarán Finlay:

I thank the Senator for her question. Regarding reasonable accommodations, there are some welcome provisions in the general scheme of the Bill. There is a proposal to increase the requirements or obligations on certain providers under the Equal Status Act. The thresholds will change from a nominal cost to a disproportionate burden, which aligns with the requirements under the UNCRPD. That is positive as it improves the reasonable accommodation standard, but there are some limitations in the current definition under the Equal Status Act. One of the things provided for under the legislation is that only where something is unduly difficult or impossible to access would a reasonable accommodation measure be required. Therefore, even if something is moderately difficult to access, for example in education, there is no requirement to provide a reasonable accommodation. One of the changes we advocate for is that that particular requirement be removed from the legislation. There are also some narrow definitions of family status. One of the things provided for in the legislation is that there are some protections for carers and parents of children with a disability, but it is quite narrowly defined at present, as has been pointed out. There could be a broader scope by bringing in a broader range of care arrangements under the family status ground.