The
Equality Authority - (An tÚdarás Comhionannais)
- Ireland - Press Release
Taoiseach
Opens EU Equality Year for Ireland - Equality
Authority Press Release - 05 Feb 2007
An
Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Bertie Ahern TD today
launched the European Year of Equal Opportunities
for All in Ireland. A large gathering drawn from non
governmental organisations, state agencies, private
companies, government departments, trade unions, politics
and the judiciary was present to celebrate the event.
The
EU Council and the European Parliament have designated
2007 as European Year of Equal Opportunities for All.
They have established four objectives for the year:-
- To
raise awareness of rights under the equality legislation.
- To
promote the participation of under- represented
groups in all sectors.
- To
encourage a celebration of diversity in society.
- To
support social cohesion and good relations between
groups.
A
demand for progress on equality in Ireland is evident
in the Eurobarometer survey published by the European
Commission to mark the European Year. This found that:
- 86%
of Irish people think that we need more women
in management, more people with disabilities in
the workplace and more women in the Dail.
- 82%
of Irish people think that we need more people
over 50 in companies.
- 49%
people think that we need more minority ethnic
people in the Dail
Niall
Crowley stated that "the strategy we are launching
today seeks a European Year of Equal Opportunities
for All that reinvigorates and expands the commitment
and ambition of all sectors for a more equal Ireland;
that challenges and seeks to dismantle the barriers
of discrimination and exclusion that currently face
groups and individuals experiencing inequality; and
that engages all sectors of Irish society in responding
to a demand for progress towards a more equal society."
The
Equality Authority is the national implementing body
for the Year in Ireland. They have published a strategy
of actions for the Year. The Year takes place at a
time when the situation of groups covered by the equality
legislation continues to demonstrate significant inequalities.
The 2005 CSO survey on equality which found that 12.5%
of the population aged 18 and over (382,000 people)
had experienced discrimination the previous two years
is highlighted in the strategy.
Niall
Crowley, Chief Executive Officer of the Equality Authority
emphasised that "in a context of significant and
persistent inequalities the strategy will stimulate
and support practical action to address situations
of inequality and experiences of discrimination across
the nine grounds covered by equality legislation.
This action will involve change from individuals and
within the systems and practices of institutions.
It will involve an explicit and enhanced commitment
from key sectors and interests in Irish society to
achieving full equality in practice for all."
The
Equality Authority strategy for the European Year
sets out six priority action areas. These are:-
Priority
1: Information and advocacy
Initiatives
will be taken to enhance the provision of information
on rights to groups experiencing inequality. Comhairle
and the Office of the Ombudsman will work with the
Equality Authority to explore new approaches to the
provision of information. Public awareness campaigns
to promote a valuing of diversity among the general
public will be organised on Worklife Balance, Ageism,
cultural diversity in the workplace and disability
issues
Priority
2: Equality mainstreaming
Activities
will be developed to support public sector bodies
to incorporate a focus on equality in planning and
policy making. The Department of Health and Children
and the Department of Education and Science will explore
the inclusion of an equality mainstreaming approach
in their policy making systems
Priority
3: Equality competence
Two
learning networks will be established to support institutional
change so that organisations are planned and systematic
in combating discrimination, making adjustments for
diversity and promoting full equality in practice.
FAS and the HSE will lead a learning network in the
public sector and IBEC will do so in the private sector.
Priority
4: Equality debate
This
will involve activities to engage key sectors and
interests in a national debate on issues of equality,
diversity and discrimination in Ireland. Congress,
the Local Government Management Services Board, the
TUI, ASTI and INTO, and the Equality Authority will
all seek to support this debate at events and conferences
during the Year.
Priority
5: Multiple discrimination
This
will involve initiatives on older immigrants, women
with a disability and older people with a disability.
Priority
6: Burning issues
Initiatives
to stimulate progress in addressing key equality issues
will be funded under the strategy. Non-governmental
organisations will be resourced to develop projects
for each of the following issues:
- The
sharing of caring responsibilities between men
and women, the status and standing of those who
play caring roles and the role of the State in
supporting caring.
- Gender
conditioning in men and the role of men in pursuit
of gender equality.
- Recognition
for transgender people in the gender with which
they identify.
- Family
diversity in Irish society.
- Provision
of accommodation to meet the needs of lone parents
- Developing
a national strategy for carers
- Combating
negative stereotyping of young people
- Access
to health services for older people
- The
experience of people with disabilities in institutions
- Supporting
service providers to ensure accessibility of their
services for people with disabilities
- Partnership
rights for same-sex couples
- Integration
for minority ethnic groups and the emergence of
an integrated intercultural society
- Majority
community attitudes to Islam and the Muslim community
- Achieving
educational outcomes for Travellers
The
Equality Authority was established by statute in 1999
to promote equality of opportunity and to combat discrimination
in the areas covered by the Employment Equality Acts
and the Equal Status Acts. Visit www.equality.ie
for further information.
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