Members of the Equality Authority designate were appointed yesterday to start preparations for new legislation which outlaws discrimination in work-related areas against a wide range of sections of society.
The Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue, who made the announcement, said that the target date for implementation of the Employment Equality Act 1998 would be next September 1st.
He said the Act outlawed discrimination on nine grounds: gender, marital status, family status, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, race and membership of the Traveller community.
The board was composed of persons who had knowledge of, or experience in equality, consumer or social issues, the provision of goods or services or other matters relevant to the functions of the authority, as well as nominees from employer and employee interests. The authority would be in office for four years.
The authority was being appointed on a designate basis so it could undertake the necessary preparations for implementation day. The Act also required the authority to prepare a strategic plan and submit it to him as soon as practicable after September 1st.
The scope of the Act was comprehensive and dealt with discrimination in work-related areas, from vocational training to access to employment and employment conditions generally, including training, work experience and advancement within employment.
The Minister said the Act provided an entitlement to equal pay for like work and work of equal value and outlawed the publication of discriminatory job advertisements and discrimination by employment agencies, vocational training bodies and other bodies such as trades unions and professional and trade associations.
The Act also defined sexual harassment for the first time in Irish law and prohibited both sexual harassment and harassment generally in the workplace.
The Minister said that a new infrastructure would consist of the Equality Authority and the office of Director of Equality Investigations. The Government had made a financial allocation of about £3.7 million for equality infrastructure in 1999.
The people appointed to the authority reflect the increased range of the legislation. Ms Kate Hayes is chairperson, and was the former chairperson of the Equality Agency. The vice-chairperson, Mr Leonard Hurley, was also a former chairman of the Equality Agency and is a teacher.
The other members are Ms Noreen Byrne, chairwoman of the National Women's Council; Mr Shane Broderick, the former jockey who was severely disabled after a riding accident; Mr Thomas McCann, of the travelling community; Mr Ultan Courtney, IBEC; Ms Marie Moynihan IBEC; Dr Anne Clune; Ms Carol Fawsitt and Ms Anne Arthur-O'Brien.
It is understood that the ICTU, which has a statutory right to nominate two persons to the authority, will be in a position to supply nominees when its executive council meets on March 26th.