Fact
File 
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 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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