Equality
Rights and recognition
Equal treatment
Equal opportunities
Equal outcomes
Grounds for disadvantage
Gender
Marital status
Disability
Sexual orientation
Age
Religion
Race
Traveller
Receipt of housing support
Discrimination definition
Absence of equality
Foundation for Ireland equality obligations
Constitution article 40.1
Criticism of constitution
Equality of treatment not equality of opportunities = equality of outcomes
Irish equality law
Employment equality legislation- work
Equal status and pensions law outside of work
European law
Equal treatment founding principles of Rome
Since 1957 directives and treaties further consolidated and expanded approach
International obligations
UN conventions
Rights of child
Elimination discrimination re race
Convention on EC and social rights
CEDAW 2017
History of equality
Establishment 70/80s
Expansion 90s
Deceleration 2008-2013
Re engagement 2014+
Establishment 70/80s
Women and married
1970 c on status of women successful implementation - women’s rep cttee monitored
EU- equal pay 1975
Equal treatment in employment
Equal treatment in social security
Employment equality agency est 1977
Legislation in 1970/1980s - gender/ marital status focus
Employment equality act 1977 re marriage recruitment etc
EC directive social security 1986
Family law acts - both must support family - DV protections
Family home protection act - can’t sell w/o consent
Juries Act 1975
Income tax act
Health Family planning act 1979/amended 1985
Status of children act 1987- illegitimate
Expansion 1990s-late 2000s
Expanded to race, religion, age, sex
2nd c - 2 recs
1- deletion mother duties
2- childcare service - Nat strat 2017
Equality infrastructure 1990s
1997- minister - DOJ
Equality authority - assisted those discriminated/compliance
Equality tribunal
IHRC
Gender mainstreaming unit
Legislation 1990s
Employment equality act 1998 grounds
Equal status act 2000
Refugee and immigration acts
Pensions act 1990
Dv acts
Housing traveler accom act - halting remained criminal
Deceleration 2008-2013
Gender unit closed 2008 under DOJ
Less remit and budget
Equality tribunal cases up 900%
EU Legislation under deceleration
Parental leave directive 2010
Self employment directive 2010
VOC directive 2012
What did EU equality legislation focus on during deceleration phase?
Consolidation and amendment of existing
Financial crisis focussed
Irish legislation during deceleration
2010- Same sex couples same rights re taxes and sw - Long termers: property pensions and maintenance
Gender quota 30% re Dail
Re engagement phase 2014- now
Equality Authority + IHRC=IHREC
Equality tribunal = WRC
Legislation during re engagement phase
LGBT re marriage 2015
Children and family relationships act 2015- adoption by same sex
Equality amendment act 2015- schools, retirement justification and housing discrimination
Gender recognition act 2016
Traveller ethnic recognition 2017
Public sector duties under IHREC c act 2014
Summary of equality in Ireland
Significant advances last 50years
Equality remains unachieved
Significant gender pay gap
Women underrepresented senior roles, boards and politics
Discrimination re asylum seekers
2016 program for govt 9 grounds
2016 to now
Women majority of PT workers despite more having 3rd level
Gender pay gap 13% 2025 enterprise Ireland
Only 20% political rep
High proportion of population at risk of of poverty
Women + men in Ireland est 2024 to track
