Budget 2009 may render Equality Authority unable to carry out the full range of its core functions

Budget 2009 may render Equality Authority unable to carry out the full range of its core functions

The Equality Authority met today to consider the impact and implications of Budget 2009 for the Equality Authority.

The Equality Authority has been accorded functions to promote equality and to combat discrimination under equality legislation. It has carried out this statutory mandate diligently and to good effect. It is recognised that the current economic downturn creates a context of reduced finances available to the public sector. However, it must also be recognised that these functions to promote equality and to combat discrimination become particularly important at a time of economic downturn for people experiencing inequality as it is these groups who are most vulnerable in such a period.

The Equality Authority has concluded that Budget 2009, if fully implemented, may render the Equality Authority unable to fully or effectively carry out the full range of its core functions under the equality legislation and relevant EU Directives.

Budget 2009 –

• reduces the total budget of the Equality Authority from €5, 897,000 to €3,333,000. This is a cut of 43%. This is disproportionate to the cutbacks imposed on other bodies in the Justice, Equality and Law Reform sector.
• requires the decentralisation of a further fifteen staff posts to the advance office in Roscrea.

The Board notes the valuable commitment made by the Minister of Justice, Equality and Law Reform to ensuring that agencies under his remit could continue to carry out their core functions. With this in mind the Equality Authority is writing to Dermot Ahern T.D., Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform seeking an urgent meeting to brief him on the situation that now faces the Equality Authority. It is hoped to find a resolution to this situation that enables the Equality Authority to fulfil its core functions.

The impact of the cutback and changes required by Budget 2009 on the Equality Authority could severely curtail its work of providing legal advice and representation to people experiencing discrimination, of conducting inquiries or equality reviews, raising the level of public awareness of rights under equality legislation, and of providing supports for good practice to employers, trade unions and service providers.

ENDS

The Equality Authority is mandated to promote equality and eliminate discrimination in the workplace and in the provision of goods and services, accommodation and education.