Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Equality must be the foundation stone of any republic. People must have not only freedom from oppression but freedom to achieve everything that is within their ability. Unfortunately, barriers are often placed in front of groups and individuals and they are unable to achieve their full potential. I congratulate and commend my comrade, Deputy Mac Lochlainn, on introducing the Bill. It aims to recognise that there are many diverse groups and sections in Irish society that need enhanced protection from the State. These groups suffer disadvantage in outcomes for a multitude of reasons and they must be offered protection. The Bill also seeks to amend current legislation and provide for equality proofing of the policy and budgets of Government and public bodies through impact assessments. This means that Government policy should be tested to see what effect it could have on marginalised groups in Irish society.

The Bill aims to introduce six new additional anti-discriminatory categories to the existing nine categories. These include trade union membership, socioeconomic background, Irish language speakers, former political prisoners, those with criminal convictions and rural dwellers. The Bill would introduce equality impact assessment schemes and consultations on a statutory compulsory basis for all Departments and public bodies when they are introducing any new measure, policy or budget and these would monitor any adverse impact the measures might have on any of the groups.

It must also be an aim to improve the condition of marginalised groups in society through legislation. This will give the State a clearer picture as to where it is failing to provide for those most in need of protection in Irish society.

Equality screening also would be extended to the budget, which would allow those who draft it to ascertain what possible impact financial changes they make could have on those most in need of protection. In each year since the onset of the recession, both the former Fianna Fáil Government and the current Fine Gael-Labour Party Administration have failed some sections of the most marginalised in Irish society. Perhaps, if equality screening of the budget had been introduced, this could have been avoided. A practical example of equality screening in respect of rural dwellers is the provision of broadband. Each person in this day and age should have access to an adequate level of broadband but, clearly, this is not the case. Were an equality impact assessment introduced to the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, I am sure it would find that rural dwellers are at a distinct disadvantage when it comes to broadband provision and appropriate steps could be taken. Inequality based on race, creed, colour, occupation, sexual orientation, level of ability or disability or geography is and always will be wrong.

I will conclude by referring to what I hope is an unintended impact of changes to regulations. I have to hand a petition that has been signed by almost 1,000 people in a small rural area of north County Leitrim. The petition states the loss of a school bus to Ardvarney national school is yet another example of how this Government through its policies, in this case through the school transport scheme operated by Bus Éireann, is actively attacking and leading to the demise of communities in rural Ireland. The undersigned signatories then ask for the retention of all school bus services to Ardvarney national school and to other rural schools. While I hope this was an unintended consequence, decisions made to change eligibility for the school transport scheme have the effect of putting at risk the very sustainability of a number of small, rural schools. The people have spoken through this petition and this is the reason this Bill is needed, that is, to ensure there are no further unintended consequences of changes in legislation or policy or budgetary impacts that are hitting the most vulnerable in society.

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