Written answers
Thursday, 15 February 2024
Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Legislative Measures
Chris Andrews (Dublin Bay South, Sinn Fein)
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308. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for an update on the progress of the Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021, given that over 12 months have passed since the Minster said he would work with the sponsors to see the Bill advance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7166/24]
Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Programme for Government 2020 includes a commitment to examine the introduction of disadvantaged socioeconomic status as a discrimination ground in the Equality Acts and consideration of this commitment forms part of the wider review of Equality Acts, which is currently under way in the Department.
Since last year, the report on the submissions to the Public Consultation on the Review of the Equality Acts was published and can be accessed here: www.gov.ie/en/press-release/cafb4-minister-ogorman-publishes-report-on-the-submissions-to-the-public-consultation-on-the-review-of-the-equality-acts/
Work is currently underway on legislative proposals for reform of the equality acts. Careful work is needed on the process of developing definitions of terms such as "socioeconomic status" or "disadvantaged socioeconomic status" which would have the degree of clarity and lack of ambiguity that is necessary for the Statute Book.
However, it is planned that legislative proposals arising from the Review will be brought forward in the coming months.
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