It is disappointing that complaints relating to pregnancy still make up half the queries to the Equality Authority, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Mr McDowell, told the authority yesterday. He said this came 25 years after the passing of the first equal employment legislation.
Launching the body's second strategic plan, Mr McDowell said it was important that it continued to support employees in availing of their employment rights.
"There is clearly a wide constituency that seeks to maximise the potential in the new equality legislation," he said. "This is a potential that firstly holds promise for those who experience inequality and discrimination. However, it also holds promise for employers in terms of a more productive workplace and for service-providers in terms of more efficient and effective services."
He said Ireland's equality legislation was one of the most modern and comprehensive models of anti-discrimination legislation in the EU. The transposition of a number of EU directives on race, employment and gender equality in the near future would help strengthen the legislative protections.
Ms Kate Hayes, chairwoman of the authority, said the strategic plan grew from a period of consultation, and from experience of over 1,000 casework files and 10,000 new inquiries from the public each year. "We bring to this strategic plan a block of experience that did not exist just three years ago," she said.
Mr Niall Crowley, chief executive of the Equality Authority, said the plan was intended to contribute to the broader search for equality in society.
Specifically, the authority was promoting equality in access to resources, employment and economic activity; access to decision-making; accommodation of the diversity of those groups currently experiencing inequality and equal access to caring relationships and solidarity.