On 8 July, the NDA’s Director, Dr Aideen Hartney, and Senior Policy and Public Affairs Advisor, Ciarán Finlay, appeared before the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Children and Equality. The Committee met to undertake pre-legislative scrutiny of the General Scheme of the Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024, which seeks to update and strengthen Ireland’s existing equality legislation.
The NDA welcomed proposals to remove the provision within the Employment Equality Acts allowing differential pay for disabled persons and to improve reasonable accommodation provisions under the Equal Status Acts. The NDA also highlighted areas requiring further attention, including by advising of the need to strengthen procedural elements and to narrow or remove some of the broad exemptions contained within the Equal Status Acts.
Representatives from the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, Pavee Point, the National Women’s Council and One Family also participated in the meeting.
A copy of our opening statement, delivered by our Director, is available on our Oireachtas submissions and statements webpage.
A copy of our submission to inform the review of the Equality Acts, is available on our Publications page.