Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In 2021, I announced my Department would be conducting a Review of the Equal Status Acts 2000 and the Employment Equality Acts 1998 (The Equality Acts). The Review, which is ongoing, is examining the operation of the Equality Acts from the perspective of the person taking a claim under its redress mechanisms. It is further examining the degree to which those experiencing discrimination are aware of the legislation and whether there are practical or other obstacles which preclude or deter them from taking an action.

The Review is also examining the 2020 Programme for Government commitments to amend the gender ground in equality legislation to ensure that someone discriminated against on the basis of their gender identity is able to avail of the legislation, and to examine the introduction of a new ground based on disadvantaged socio-economic status.

In July 2021, I launched a public consultation process as part of the review of the Equality Acts to examine the functioning of the Acts and their effectiveness in combatting discrimination and promoting equality.

The Department invited written submissions to the public consultation from 06 July 2021 - 08 December 2021, and was pleased to receive an extensive response to the consultation. The public were asked for their views on the functioning and accessibility of the acts; the scope of the current grounds; whether existing exemptions should be modified or removed; and whether the legislation adequately addresses intersectionality.

The report summarising the key issues raised in the public consultation is currently being prepared for publication and will be published in the coming weeks.

It is intended that some legislative proposals arising from the review will be brought forward this year, however, the nature of these proposals will be dependent on decisions around further consultation and research.