THE EUROPEAN Parliament’s petitions committee is to write to the Government to ask about cutbacks at the Equality Authority following claims that Ireland is not in compliance with European law because of funding and staff cuts.
The Equality and Rights Alliance made an oral submission to the committee yesterday based on a written submission it made last September. The submission claims the authority’s effectiveness has been “significantly impaired and its independence undermined” due to cuts.
The alliance is a coalition of 140 civil society groups and activists concerned about the erosion of equality, poverty and human rights issues. It includes groups such as the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, the Immigrant Council of Ireland and the European Anti-Poverty Network.
The delegation told the committee that the authority’s post of legal adviser was unfilled due to the public service embargo. Alliance member and lawyer Orlagh O’Farrell said the failure to fill the post was a serious gap in the authority’s ability to discharge its core functions under EU directives.
She said the alliance believed the Equality Authority could no longer effectively fulfil its designated tasks because almost half of its budget had been withdrawn and staff numbers had been reduced by 25 per cent.
The vacancy of a legal adviser meant that there was “a gap in terms of the authority’s capacity to advise on strategic case litigation and to respond to any proposed legislation which was likely to impact on people experiencing inequality and discrimination”, Ms O’Farrell said.
The submission has received the backing of Opposition and Independent MEPs from Ireland.
The petitions committee can make recommendations to the European Commission or can take legal proceedings when necessary.
On hearing the submission, it said it would keep the petition open and would contact the Government to ask about the cuts. It would be asking the Government how the Equality Authority could fulfil its mandate in light of the cutbacks.
The controversy over cuts to the authority came to the fore in December 2008 when its then chief executive, Niall Crowley, resigned in protest at a 43 per cent cut to its budget and the refusal of Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern to halt its decentralisation to Roscrea, Co Tipperary.
