Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 317: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the initiatives he has put in place to guard against age-related discrimination in the workplace; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17566/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Under Irish law, discrimination is prohibited on nine grounds, including that of age, in the field of employment by the Employment Equality Acts 1998 to 2008 and in the access to and supply of goods and services by the Equal Status Acts 2000 to 2008. In our programme for Government, we have committed to guard against age-related discrimination in the workplace. A number of initiatives are addressing these issues under the general direction of the Working Group on Equality Proofing. An equality proofing template has been developed by the Equality Authority and is subject to ongoing review and refinement.

An equality mainstreaming unit has been established in the Equality Authority. It is co-funded under the European Social Fund Human Capital Investment Operational Programme 2007-11. The unit aims to support enterprises and labour market programme providers, such as FÁS and the IVEA, to improve labour market access and participation for people experiencing inequality across the nine grounds covered by the equality legislation, including that of age. In addition, sectoral projects to address age discrimination in the hospitality sector, in employment and in service provision were conducted under the "Say No to Ageism" public awareness campaign in 2008, organised by the Equality Authority in partnership with the HSE and the National Council on Ageing and Older People.