2011 Equality Authority Final Annual Report launched by Justice and Equality Minister Alan Shatter TD
PRESS RELEASE – 09 July 2012
2011 Equality Authority Final Annual Report launched by Justice and Equality Minister Alan Shatter TD at the College of Physicians, Dublin 2 on Monday July 9th 2012.
“The Equality Authority, over the course of its existence, has contributed significantly to the promotion of equality in Ireland. One of the longest-lasting legacies of the Authority will be the educational measures undertaken with schools and with community groups and the business community, in addition to the awareness campaigns targeted at the general public, that have ensured that, across generations and across backgrounds, many more people have a deeper understanding of a diversity of cultures and views. We have had successful campaigns raising awareness of the issues of racism, age discrimination, gender discrimination and homophobic bullying, to name but a few,” said Angela Kerins, Chairperson of the Equality Authority at today’s launch of the 2011 Annual Report, the final annual report of the Authority.
“As the merger of the Equality Authority and the IHRC progresses the Authority looks forward to a new strong institution which will promote equality, defend victims of discrimination and enhance human rights,” she added.
“In a time of economic challenges vulnerable people are at greatest risk of discrimination, for this reason it is essential that ordinary people have a place that is accessible to them should they experience discrimination. Therefore the new merged body must be approachable, supportive and clearly available to everybody. It is also important the new body continues its promotion and advocacy role which underpins the culture of equality and anti-discrimination across all aspects of our society and makes our economy a good place to invest and to live in” Ms. Kerins emphasised, referring to the forthcoming merger of the Human Rights Commission and the Equality Authority.
CEO Renee Dempsey noted “communication and raising awareness of Equality legislation is a key strategy for the Authority. In 2011 the target of 8,000 queries to the PIC (Public Information Centre) was exceeded by 168. These queries from the public related to the five pieces of legislation under the remit of the Equality Authority. The Authority website www.equality.ie was maintained and up-dated throughout the year with 291,707 visits to the home page and 1,054,374 pages viewed’ she added.
Ms Dempsey also stated ‘the Legal Service of the Equality Authority supports people who have been discriminated against in employment or accessing goods, facilities and services. During 2011, the legal section opened 156 new case-files. By year end 134 case-files had been closed; 25 applications for representation were considered with 23 granted. The number of case-files processed reflects the current resources and capacity of the Authority’s legal Section. They are not a measure of discrimination or the level of demand for the services’ she emphasised.
“The skills and expertise of the staff of the Equality Authority will be an invaluable asset to the new body as it seeks to embrace its new role and powers and to ensure a positive impact in its delivery. Equality is at the heart of every civilised society and democracy. Our legacy as an Equality Authority is important and must be reflected at the core of this new body. The renewed vigour and scope to progress the equality and human rights agenda, which is fair to all our citizens, is another pillar on which to build the optimism and structures needed to accelerate our progress towards recovery” Angela Kerins concluded.
Ends