Joanna Tuffy (Labour)

I move amendment No. 11:

In page 19, before line 1, to insert the following:

26.—Section 69 of the Act of 1998 is amended by the addition of the following subsection after subsection (6)—

'(6A) Where an employer fails to have an equality action plan (irrespective of whether he or she had been required pursuant to this section to have such a plan) it shall be presumed until the contrary is shown in any proceedings under this Act that the employer has failed to take such steps as are reasonable to protect the employees of such an employer from discrimination." '.

This amendment is a repeat of an amendment tabled on Committee Stage. Its purpose is to try to get employers to take proactive measures to ensure there is no discrimination in the workplace on the basis of race or on other grounds. I mentioned that the Equality Authority said something about the need for some kind of measure to compel employers to do something to prevent racism in the workplace or discrimination against non-Irish nationals working there. Has the Minister considered introducing measures along the lines proposed here, or different measures with a similar intent? Has the Equality Authority raised it with the Minister?