Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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313. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which he proposes to use equality as a means of ensuring proper and adequate services for those deemed to be in need of such services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26270/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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All public bodies have responsibility under Section 42 of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014 to promote equality, prevent discrimination and protect the human rights of their employees, customers, service users and everyone affected by their policies and plans. The public sector duty assessment and implementation for the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth was published in 2021 and the Department will continue to report on developments relating to the implementation of the Duty in its Annual Reports.

Discrimination on specified grounds is prohibited by law in the supply of and access to goods and services under the Equal Status Acts 2000 to 2018. Complaints regarding breaches of equality legislation may be pursued before the Workplace Relations Commission. The Workplace Relations Commission publishes statistics regularly on its decisions in regard to equality complaints, disaggregated by discriminatory ground.

The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, which is independent in the exercise of its statutory functions, includes among those functions keeping under review the adequacy and effectiveness of law and practice in the State relating to the protection of human rights and equality, including in relation to the provision of goods and services.

The ongoing review of the Equality Acts 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. In July 2021, my Department undertook 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. A report summarising the key issues raised in the public consultation was published last year and can be accessed here:

It is hoped that legislative proposals arising from the review will be brought forward in the coming weeks.