A consultation has been launched seeking the public’s views on a review of the Equality Acts (Equal Status Acts 2000-2018 and the Employment Equality Acts 1998-2015). The Review of the Equality Acts is a hugely important opportunity for all groups and individuals who are concerned with promoting equality and combatting discrimination, and the current consultation process provides the opportunity to set the agenda for the Review.

For an excellent overview please view the FLAC Equality Review Resource document HERE

Clare PPN is inviting the views of our member groups for inclusion in our submission.  Feel free to only answer the questions that are of interest to you.

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* 1. The name of your Clare PPN member group...

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* 2. What has gotten better and what has gotten worse during the 20 years of the Equality Acts? Have new forms of inequality and discrimination emerged during this time? What are the key issues relating to inequality and discrimination which must now be addressed?

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* 3. Currently the nine grounds of discrimination listed in equality legislation are: gender, marital status, family status, age, disability, sexual orientation, race, religion, and membership of the Traveller community. Are there other grounds of discrimination that should be included (eg. socio-economic disadvantage)?

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* 4. Do the current definitions of the existing grounds need to be changed to provide better protection, (eg. 'family status' include carers, 'gender' include transgender, non-binary or intersex people)?

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* 5. The Equality Acts prohibit several forms of discrimination, including direct and indirect discrimination and discrimination by association, sexual harassment and harassment, and victimisation. Is there is a lack of awareness about what the equality legislation provides for? Why is this the case and how can it be addressed?

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* 6. Are the financial compensation and other remedies provided for in the Acts adequate both in terms of providing compensation for experiences of discrimination and preventing discrimination from occurring?

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* 7. Is there sufficient Equality Data available to fully understand the extent of certain forms of inequality, and the effectiveness of measures to promote equality?

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* 8. What issues or barriers prevent or deter those who may experience discrimination from trying to enforce their rights (eg, time limits, cases reduced to only one ground of discrimination, court jurisdiction, unavailability of legal aid)?

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* 9. Should the Acts be amended to specially protect people who experience inequality and discrimination on combined grounds (e.g. Traveller women or older people with disabilities)?

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* 10. In the Equality Acts, an Garda Síochána and the Irish Prison Service are exempt from prohibition on discrimination.  Should these exemptions be removed in the review?

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* 11. There are additional exemptions to the Equality Acts (see Section 3.1 of the FLAC review document linked in the introduction). What approach should the review take to exemptions in the Acts?

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* 12. The Equal Status Acts impose a very minimal obligation to provide 'reasonable accommodation'.  How should the Acts ensure that people with disabilities have full access to goods, services and employment?

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* 13. Have you ever experienced discrimination?  Was it covered under the nine grounds and if so did you seek legal remedy?

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* 14. Have you any additional comment to make?

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