The Equality and Rights Alliance (ERA) launched its election 2011 campaign today.
A coalition of 155 organisations and activists, the body is asking people to ensure that equality and human rights are prominent issues in the upcoming general election.
“We are rallying our sizeable membership to declare on the doorsteps that equality and rights matter. We are asking them to find out who will best protect and progress equality and human rights and then to elect them” said Johanna McMinn, chair of the alliance.
Nine speakers from a variety of groups were invited to give a short speech at the launch in Dublin this morning.
Representing gay and lesbian people, Grainne Healy of Marriagequality said that there are still over 300 differences in status between the institutions of marriage and civil partnership.
David Egan from the Centre for Independent Living expressed concern about the way in which care has been transferred from hospitals to communities. While he welcomed the move he warned against “putting institutional care into the community” by not allowing for adequate choice.
Other speakers included Denise Charlton of the Immigrant Council of Ireland and Frances Byrne of OPEN (which represents single parents) both of whom warned against a “divide and conquer” tactic they say had been employed by the present government prior to the budget.
Children’s charity Barnardos representative Nora Gibbons said she was concerned about the increasing numbers of minors who are slipping into consistent poverty. Martin Collins of Pavee Point Traveller Centre highlighted what he said was continued discrimination against Travellers, particularly by publicans.
Ailbhe Smyth of the Feminist Open Forum asked for a gender quota in politics to improve the current situation in which only 13 per cent of TDs are women.
Also in attendance was Frank Goodwin of the Carers' Association and Robin Webster of Age Action. Mr Goodwin highlighted the unrecognised contribution that carers make to the economy while Mr Webster made an appeal for greater protection of older people, particularly those with dementia.