Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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459. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will amend section 2(1) of the Equal Status Act 2000 to insert "or seriously affects a person's capacity to take part in normal social interaction or to form social relationships"; if it is planned to do so within the next 12 months; and if he will provide a timeline for doing so. [36216/22]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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In July 2021, I launched a public consultation process as part of the review of the Equality Acts (Equal Status Acts 2000-2018 and the Employment Equality Acts 1998-2015) to examine the functioning of the Acts and their effectiveness in combatting discrimination and promoting equality.

The purpose of the review is to examine the operation of the Acts with regard to the effectiveness of existing redress mechanisms. It is examining the degree to which those experiencing discrimination are aware of the legislation and whether there are practical or other obstacles that preclude or deter them from taking an action. 

The review will include consideration of Programme for Government commitments to examine the introduction of a socio-economic ground for discrimination and the amendment of the gender ground. It also includes a review of current definitions for the other grounds, including the disability ground. 

The Department was pleased to receive an extensive response to the public consultation. Submissions are currently being analysed by officials in my department and it is intended that the outcome of the consultation will be made public when this is complete. It is expected that some legislative proposals arising from the review will be brought forward in 2023.  The nature of these proposals will be informed by the issues raised during the consultation.