Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time."

As an Irish republican, equality is at the core of all that I believe in. I believe in a new republic, one in which all citizens are equal regardless of the colour of their skin, their religious beliefs, their sexual orientation, where they live or what they do. We are appealing to the Government via the legislation before the House to implement equality budgeting.

Creating the conditions for establishing an equal society means recognising that many diverse groups and sections of society need enhanced protection from the State. This Bill amends the existing legislation and aims to provide for equality proofing, through impact assessments, of Government policy and budgets as well as public bodies. The legislation will ensure that, in exercising their functions, the Government and public bodies do so in a way that is designed to reduce the inequalities of outcome that result from socioeconomic disadvantage.

The Bill recognises those additional sectors of society that require enhanced protection from the State in respect of policy and spending decisions. While we all know that times are hard, what some of us fail to recognise is just how difficult they are for some of the poorest and most vulnerable. The Government came into office on a wave of promises in 2011. Soon afterwards, however, it became apparent that many of its plans involved taking from some of the most vulnerable. A study carried out by TASC revealed that lone parents, the group most at risk of poverty, lost the highest percentage of income in budget 2011. Low-income workers are disproportionately affected by austerity measures, such as the universal social charge, which is a highly regressive tax in that it comes into force at its highest level of 7% at just above the minimum wage. Women make up the majority of workers earning the minimum wage or slightly above it. They are also more reliant on public services and welfare provisions, all of which are being severely curtailed by the Government. This applies, in particular, to women with children.

Cuts in health expenditure have also resulted in reductions in services for people with disabilities. Recent budgets have resulted in cuts in the disability allowance, carer's allowance and carer’s benefit. We continue to see increases in inequality and poverty and there is growing evidence showing the disproportionate impact economic policies have been having on disadvantaged groups since the beginning of the economic crisis.

Equality budgeting has been internationally accepted as a means to effectively deal with inequality and poverty. Worldwide, more than 60 countries have adopted or are working towards equality budgeting. These include the United Kingdom, South Africa, Canada, Tanzania and Uganda. The time has come for Ireland to follow suit and make a stand by providing a more just and equitable society for all. Creating true equality sometimes requires that we put in place mechanisms to ensure this objective is achieved. This is one of those times. If we were to adopt equality budgeting, we would ensure that equality is placed well and truly at the centre of any decisions concerning public expenditure and income.

I will now outline some of the specifics of the Bill. The existing Equal Status Act 2000 came into force on 25 October 2000 and was amended by the Equality Act 2004 on 19 July 2004. The Acts relate to discrimination based on the following nine grounds: gender; civil status; family status; age; race; religion; disability; sexual orientation; and membership of the Traveller community. They apply to people who buy and sell a wide variety of goods, use or provide a wide range of services, obtain or dispose of accommodation and attend or are in charge of educational establishments. Separate provisions apply to clubs practising discrimination. All complaints must relate to at least one of the nine discriminatory grounds listed.

Sinn Féin's Equal Status (Amendment) Bill 2013 aims to achieve a number of objectives. It seeks to add new and additional anti-discriminatory categories to the existing nine categories. These prohibit discrimination on the grounds of trade union membership or socioeconomic background, which is very important, as well as discrimination against Irish language speakers, former political prisoners who served their sentences before the Good Friday Agreement or were released under its terms, and rural dwellers.

It seeks to introduce equality impact assessment schemes and consultation on a statutory compulsory basis by all Departments and public bodies where they are introducing any new measure, policy or budget detailing what adverse impact this may have on the existing nine and, it is hoped, the additional six anti-discriminatory categories proposed in the Bill and how they intend to better achieve equality of opportunity, or would better eliminate or lessen existing discrimination.

They must have regard to promoting equality of opportunity. The equality impact assessment scheme of each Department and public body will be assessed for compliance and monitored by the Equality Authority of Ireland, which will become the human rights and equality authority later this year when the legislation is passed. It will offer advice as per guidelines detailing the statutory duties of all Departments and public bodies. Departments and public bodies will publish the results of their equality impact assessments and state the aims of the measure, policy, budget to which the assessment relates and give details of any consideration given against the duty to promote equality of opportunity and against the existing nine categories and, it is hoped, the additional six proposed.

The Government and public bodies in carrying out their functions must have regard to reducing the inequalities of outcome which result from socioeconomic disadvantage. A system for complaints against Departments and public bodies will be introduced also and overseen by the Equality Authority of Ireland. The authority may approve a Department's scheme and will have the power to modify it or request the Department to make a revised scheme. Each Department and public body must publish an annual report on the operation and performance of the scheme. Through equality audits and impact assessments, equality budgeting provides information on the economic impact of policy measures on different sections of society.

Inequality and poverty are on the increase in Ireland. The gap between the richest and poorest in Ireland increased by 25% in 2010, with the top 20% earning 5.5 times the income of those on the lowest 20%. The percentage of people in Ireland living in consistent poverty increased in 2010, as did the percentage of children at risk of poverty, which stands at 19.5%. We know that economic policy measures introduced since the beginning of the economic crisis are having a disproportionate impact on certain sections of society, thereby exacerbating inequality and poverty. Equality budgeting makes sense. It is fair and just. I am asking all Deputies in the House and particularly Government Deputies to allow the Bill to progress to Committee Stage.

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