Ms Rebecca Gorman:

On behalf of the Add the 10th Alliance, this is the crucial opportunity to finally vindicate the rights of people who experience economic discrimination. This is not the opportune time; the opportune time was decades ago, but now is a better time than never. This is something we have been pushing for since the equality legislation was enacted. It is a real missing ground that will enforce the others, but it also needs to be stand alone because the enforcing cycle of socioeconomic discrimination adds a vicious cycle for generational poverty as well as access and participation and social inclusion in life. For us, the definition needs to be quite broad to make sure it captures everyone who is experiencing discrimination. At this point, it depends on how we measure it, but at least 11 EU countries have some sort of legislation or policy work in this area, so we are falling behind. We are becoming a laggard in terms of our equality legislation, which needs to be brought up to date. We have our own obligations to the UN covenant on economic social and cultural rights. That has mandated us to enact this. Therefore, now is the crucial time. We have concerns around business interests that will create an imbalance when, really, human rights and social inclusion should be a priority for the Government. We would hope to see that enacted in this round. It has had cross-party consensus for a while now, so I do not think it should be slowed down any further. This is the point at which it needs to change. We need to see that sea change for people experiencing it every day.