Expressions of Interest - Equality Mainstreaming Supports

Request for Tender: Training for Teachers - To develop and deliver a training programme for second level teachers to embed equality in the curriculum and in schools

The Equality Authority is seeking tenders to develop and deliver a training programme for second level teachers to embed equality in the curriculum and in schools. The project is funded under the EU’s PROGRESS Programme.

Tenders should be submitted by e-mail to: uomeara@equality.ie.

The closing date for receipt of tenders is 12.00 noon on Friday 31 May 2013

Please use the subject line "Request for Tender – Training for Teachers"

Please read the full text of the Request for Tender in the attachment.

Request for Tender: Training for Teachers.doc (size 382 KB)

Equality Mainstreaming Supports for the Further Education and Training Sector

Call for Expressions of Interest

The Equality Mainstreaming Unit in the Equality Authority is seeking expressions of interest from providers of further education, training and labour market programmes including soon to be established Local Education and Training Boards who wish to avail of this support. Depending on organisational need, an equality expert can be made available for a minimum of 2 days to a maximum of 12 days. The cost of the expert’s support will be borne by the Equality Mainstreaming Unit.

One of the objectives of the Equality Mainstreaming Unit is to support providers of further education and training and labour market programmes to promote equality and combat discrimination in how they plan and deliver their programmes.

Organisations that have not previously availed of equality mainstreaming supports from the EMU are encouraged to apply as well as those that have previously been beneficiaries of this supports. Organisations which have previously availed of EMU funding are required to demonstrate in their application that their proposed project will focus on the implementation of equality action plans developed through previous rounds of funding.

The closing date for receipt of applications is 5.00pm, Monday, 10^th June 2013.

Expression of Interest should be returned to Ursula O’Meara by email: uaomeara@equality.ie

N.B. Please use the subject line

‘Equality Mainstreaming Supports for the Further Education and Training Sector’.

Please read the full text of the Call in the attached document.

Equality Mainstreaming Supports for the further education and Training Sector.doc (size 650.8 KB) 

For further queries, please contact:

Stefania Minervino

Email:

sminervino@equality.ie

Tel: (01) 4173374

Equality Mainstreaming Unit

Call for Proposals

To Develop an Equality Mainstreaming Project Focused on Access to Employment or Workplace Equality

The Equality Mainstreaming Unit is now inviting applications for funding under the European Social Fund supported Equality Mainstreaming Approach 2007-2013. Funding of up to € 20,000 per project - for one year or less - may be made available to public or private organisations including civil society organisations. The funding is for targeted projects which foster equality across the nine grounds covered by the equality legislation through the delivery of an equality mainstreaming project. This programme of funding will focus on implementation of equality mainstreaming strategies and successful applicants will have to demonstrate that equality mainstreaming has been implemented. A maximum of € 20,000 will be made available only on foot of exceptional applications. All projects will be required to engage with more than one project partner in order to ensure maximum equality outcomes.

The project will have to focus on improving access to the labour market (equal access and participation to employment, further education and training, employability programmes) for groups across the nine grounds or on promoting equality in the workplace through a whole organisational approach or an approach across a sector or a region. The closing date for receipt of proposals is 5.00 p.m. on Friday, 17 May 2013. Proposals which are delivered late will not be considered.

Proposals should be submitted by e-mail to: uomeara@equality.ie

Please use the subject line "Call for Proposals – To develop an equality mainstreaming project focused on access to employment or workplace equality"

Please read the Full text of the Call for Proposals in the attachment.

Develop an Equality Mainstreaming Project.doc (size 456.2 KB) 

Equality Authority’s

Research, Policy and Good Practice Publications

Are you a a student or do you represent a NGO working on equality? Are you a researcher, an academic or a teacher? Do you work in human resources or customer services in a business? Would you like to get free publications on equality?

• Equality Authority’s publications from the Development and Research sections can be ordered through the attached form.

• It is possible to order multiple copies of some publications depending on availability.

• Publications are free of charge.

• There are also more publications available for download on our website.

• Information booklets (including translated materials) and annual reports can be ordered from our Communications Section in Roscrea.

For further information: sminervino@equality.ie

or ring Stefania at (01) 4173374

 Download list here:

• Equality Authority's Research, Policy and Good Practice Publications.doc (size 142.8 KB)

Additional Equality Authority Publications (see attached list below) are available from our Public Information Centre, Roscrea on application to Carmel Dillon: CDILLON@Equality.ie or ring Carmel at Ph. 0505 24126

• Equality Authority Publications-April, 2013.doc (size 162.8 KB)

Press Release:        

New Report on Operation of Equal Status Acts An Important Analysis – Equality Authority.

 The Equality Authority published a Report on ‘Selected Issues in Irish Equality Caselaw 2008-2011’ launched by the Minister for Justice and Equality, Alan Shatter TD in Dublin today. “The Equal Status Act is an important piece of legislation. It sets a benchmark as to how we want to function as a fair society. People have the human right to participate economically, socially, democratically and emotionally in society. This legislation makes an important contribution to tackling the barriers of prejudice often invoked to prevent such participation and to separate and exclude individuals and particular groups from the mainstream” said Renee Dempsey CEO, the Equality Authority.

 “We acknowledge David Fennelly BL’s great work in producing this readable, accessible and reasoned analysis of key issues that affect the impact of the Acts in addressing inequalities in the provision of goods, facilities, services accommodation and education inIreland. The Report supported by the EU’s PROGRESS initiative, allowed us to select the themes for this study, arising out of our own engagement with the Acts and the redress fora over the years” she continued.

 “The Equality Tribunal as a quasi-judicial body, was established to be a free and impartial service, accessible and less formal than costly, adversarial Court. It has served that purpose well. There is no requirement to have legal representation before the Tribunal as it does not award costs, regardless of the outcome. The Equality Authority can and does provide legal assistance in cases of strategic importance. The law’s no costs and mediation provisions, incentivise and promote resolution and the acceptance of a climate of compliance. As with any law, as it ages, other matters begin to emerge that impact on the effectiveness of the protection offered. Legal issues arising from the law itself, can take up the Tribunal’s time, on matters other than the specific circumstances of the claims of discrimination. David’s analysis of the impact of jurisdictional tests being argued before the Tribunal, is particularly helpful. It outlines the challenge to any claimant faced with such legal argument, without the benefit of legal support.  It is important that a body like ourselves would scope this issue, as it impacts on accessibility for redress, which is why we launch this Report today”, she added.

 “The original intent of the legislation was that a prima facia case of discrimination would be established by the claimant and then the ‘burden of proof’ would rest with the respondent to justify their actions, as a defence against the claim of discrimination. David’s analysis gives a helpful insight into how difficult a test the ‘burden of proof’ requirement has become, in practice” continued Ms Dempsey.

 “It is clear in this Report that the specialisation of the Tribunal in grasping discriminatory matters is important and welcome. We hope that this specialisation can be used as a model by the higher Courts. We have taken some legal training initiatives in the past and this has always resulted in interesting debate and insightful lenses being put on previous practice and current legislative outcomes. His insights into selected substantive and procedural issues are also valuable, as this legislation proceeds through it’s second decade. In short, the Report is a good read!” she continued.

 “The Employment Equality Acts have a higher level of effective remedy which involves and engages private practitioners in representing claimants before the Tribunal and beyond. There is less evidence of such engagement by private practitioners representing claimants in the Equal Status area. Most of the appeals to higher Courts have involved significant resources from ourselves or NGOs in seeking to tease out the meaning of the law and its application in specific circumstances. It is an expensive and challenging area, as our work in promoting equal access and treatment in education for example, testifies” she added.

 “The Minister is aware of the Equality Authority’s additional work on reviewing and monitoring the legislation and this Report is the latest contribution to that mandate. We have also made submissions to the Law Reform Commission on the area of guardianship and family rights. We particularly welcome his awareness of the weakness of the protections for children whose parents are civilly partnered. We look forward to offering a constructive contribution to any legal changes that may be proposed in this area” continued Ms Dempsey.

 “The circumstances around the rights of couples who have conceived and delivered a child through surrogacy are topical and increasing in the public domain. We have made some recommendations to the Minister on our own cases, arising out of disability, for his consideration. We have also contributed to the proposals to recognise and provide for the status of transgendered people and we appreciate his Department’s role in the updating of the Code of Practice on Sexual harassment and Harassment in the Workplace in recent times” said Ms Dempsey.

 “The range of remedies provided by the Equal Status Acts, go beyond case law and into the area of enabling compliance. The Authority has always worked in partnership to build understanding and enable compliance. Yet we still note the ongoing difficulties that arise in the implementation of these Acts in some areas of the public sector.

The public sector is by far the greatest deliverer of services inIrelandand especially to vulnerable groups. The Authority is now fully engaged in the demanding task of merging ourselves with the Irish Human Rights Commission this year. It is an opportunity to reinvigorate these important agendas, to share resources and expertise in which we are fully engaged with our human rights’ colleagues” she added.

 “We have long argued that, when it comes to the correct implementation of law, one arm of the State should not always have to litigate with another arm of the State, in order to ensure correct compliance. In that context, it is most helpful that the Minister proposes to introduce a ‘Positive Duty’ on the public sector in the new merger legislation. This welcome initiative has the potential to enable increased understanding and correct implementation of our equality legislation throughout the public sector” she continued.

 “We also welcome the Minister’s commitment to review the Section 37 provision of the Employment Equality Acts. This was a specific exemption at the time. The review I hope will consider measures from deletion to ensuring the chilling effect on LGBT workers is no longer a barrier to well qualified people, making their contribution in education, health and other important sectors. Further immediate challenges lie ahead arising from the recent Council of Europe’s ‘European Committee of Social Rights’ finding, on the fact that there is a maximum compensation in our employment equality legislation is in breach of European human rights law. The Equality Authority pointed this out as far back as 2004. The preparation of our new legislation may be an opportunity to address that issue to ensure compliance with the European standards and other matters that have arisen in the working of this important legislation during its first decade” said Ms Dempsey.

 “This report today is a very good review of how, after a decade of delivery, the Equal Status Acts are working. It is a useful indication as to where further clarity or improvement could be made, at a time when new legislation is being prepared. The principle of fair access to services and facilities is a good ambition andIrelandhas been a leader in this field.

 Alongside our heavy merger based workload, we are very pleased to have an opportunity through this Report, to focus on our core mandate and to bring this legal analysis into the public domain. The more we inform the debate, the quicker the intent of the law is understood and the more opportunities arise to increase the customer base, while respecting the right to equal status of all service users inIreland” concluded Ms Dempsey.

 Ends   February 4^th 2013

Download the report here

Selected Issues in Irish Equality Case Law 2008-2011.pdf (size 1.5 MB)

See also speeches

• Speech of CEO of Equality Authority at launch of "Selected Issues in Irish Equality Case Law 2008-2011".doc (size 30.2 KB)

• Speech of Minister for Justice at launch of "Selected Issues in Irish Case Law 2008-2011" .doc (size 32.8 KB)

Equality Authority Endorses Anti-Bullying Programme based on the protections of Equality Legislation

• See Press Release below

•  Equality Authority Endorses Anti-Bullying Programme based on the protections of Equality Legislation.doc (size 22 KB)

Disability in the Irish Labour Market

Added: 17th January 2013

The period from 2004 to 2010 was a crucial one for people with a disability in Ireland. On the one hand, beginning with the 2004 National Disability Strategy, there was an intense policy focus on disability. This was accompanied by a shift in perspective from a medical model that views disability as primarily a health issue to a ‘mainstreaming’ social model that is concerned to ensure that people with a disability participate in society to the maximum extent possible. On the other hand, the onset of the recession in 2008 placed severe constraints on the resources available to implement the new policies. This report asks what the outcomes were in terms of the labour market experiences of people with a disability in 2010. It draws on data from the Central Statistics Office’s 2010 Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS), which included a module on equality and discrimination. This allows examination of the objective situation of people with a disability in the labour market as well as their subjective accounts of experiencing discrimination. The authors were fortunate in being able to compare the 2010 results with those of a very similar module in the 2004 QNHS.

• Download the report here
•  Read the Press Release

Ethnicity and Nationality in the Irish Labour Market

Added: 17 January 2013

This study addresses two related questions. First, do immigrants in Ireland face less favourable prospects than the native-born population in the labour market? Here, objective measures of labour market outcomes are examined to assess whether there are disparities between immigrant and native Irish participants in the labour market. There is a particular focus on access to employment, on the risk of unemployment, on the quality of occupations attained and on earnings from work. Second, do immigrants report higher levels of discrimination in the labour market? This focuses on people’s subjective interrpretations of their involvement in the labour market and draws on a dedicated series of questions about experiences of discrimination when looking for work and when in the workplace. Also examined were differences in both objective outcomes and subjective experiences for different groups of immigrants, looking in particular at variations between different national-ethnic groups.

• Download the report here
•  Read the Press Release here

Analysing the Experience of Discrimination in Ireland

Added: 14 Dec 2012

This report, ‘Analysing the Experience of Discrimination in Ireland: Evidence from the QNHS Equality Module 2010’ provides a detailed analysis of a nationally representative survey on discrimination collected by the Central Statistics Office in late 2010. This survey collected data on the experience of discrimination in employment and in accessing services, the grounds on which discrimination occurred and the impact of discrimination on those experiencing it. The survey also investigated participants’ knowledge of their rights under equality legislation and what action they had taken to address discrimination against them.

• Download the report here
• Read the Press Release here

Available Appointment: Chief Commissioner (Designate) of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission

The Chief Commissioner will be responsible for securing the successful merger of the two bodies. S/he will chair the new Commission.

The successful candidate must demonstrate a high degree of expertise in, or knowledge of, human rights and/or equality issues and a clear understanding of board management and corporate governance. S/he will demonstrate an awareness of how to operate effectively across government and public administration systems. The post will be for a period of 5 years.

Closing date: 29/11/2012

• For further information and details on how to apply please click here

Details of the selection panel can be found at:http://www.ihrecpanel.com/

Available Appointment: Member (Designate) of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission

The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) is being established through the merger of the Irish Human Rights Commission and the Equality Authority.

The Commission will consist of 15 members, one of whom will be the Chief Commissioner, and will be appointed by the President following a resolution passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas, once the necessary legislation is in place in due course.

Applications are invited from suitably qualified individuals to serve as one of fourteen members of the new Commission. Appointment will be for a period of 3 to 5 years and will attract a stipend.

Closing date: 29/11/2012

• For further information and details on how to apply please click here

Details of the selection panel can be found at:http://www.ihrecpanel.com/

Equality and Mental Health - What advocates need to know

'Equality = Innovation'

Workshop

Venue: Hilton Dublin, Charlemont Place, Dublin 2

Date: 20 November 2012

This workshop will:

• Explore the links between equality, innovation and civil society;
• Showcase recent exciting equality innovation initiatives funded through the Equality Innovation Fund;
• Launch Equality = Innovation: Case Studies from the Equality Innovation Fund;
• Enable participants to engage directly with individual projects through interactive Marketplace of Ideas sessions;
• Enable participants to find out about innovative practice that they can use in their own work.

The workshop is aimed at civil society organisations, policymakers and funders.

• Full details here

Publication

'Equality=Innovation: Case Studies from the Equality Innovation Fund' showcases 17 diverse projects on equality innovation undertaken by equality NGOs, sports bodies and an arts organisation between 2009 and 2012. The Equality Innovation Fund and the accompanying publication were part-funded by the EU's PROGRESS budget line.

• Download the report here

Your Maternity Leave Rights Explained

The Equality Authority has produced a number of guides to the Equality Legislation.  Last year, with the support of funding from the European Union Programme for Employment and Social Solidarity-PROGRESS (2007-2013) we produced a Plain English guide to rights under the Equal Status Acts and the Employment Equality Acts titled “Your Equal Status Rights Explained” and “Your Employment Equality Rights Explained”. These booklets were also translated into fourteen languages with the aim of reaching the main minority groups living inIreland.

These proved to be very useful and this year we decided to update our existing guide to Maternity Leave in a Plain English format. This guide has also been translated into 14 languages i.e. Arabic, Chinese, Croatian, Czech, French, Irish, Latvian, Lingala, Lithuanian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Spanish.

• Available to download here

Open Week - 5th to 9th November 2012

Unisex Insurance Information Note

Added: 01 Nov 2012

The Department of Justice and Equality has issued an information note for consumers on the mandatory introduction of unisex insurance from 21 December 2012.

• You can read the information note here

A Bill will provide for technical amendments to the Equal Status Acts to give effect in national law to the decision of the Court of Justice of the EU in the Test-Achats case. In this decision the Court ruled that the existing exemption afforded to Member States under EU Directive 2004/113/EC to permit insurance companies to vary prices and benefits for private insurance to reflect differences in risk according to gender will cease to be valid from 21 December 2012. Essentially, this means that it will no longer be legal to offer life insurance and motor insurance on the basis of differing pricing for men and women.

• More information on the Bill is available here

Equality and Diversity and Grounds for Action

Solicitor post in the Equality Authority

Equality Mainstreaming Supports for the Further Education and Training Sector - Call for Expressions of Interest

Grounds for Action: Building a Culture of Equality in Our Society. A Citizenship Education Resource for Transition Year and Key Stage 4

Added: 28 Sep 2012

This resource for teachers is intended for use in Citizenship Education in second level schools, namely Transition Year (Ireland) and Key Stage 4 (Northern Ireland). It provides a series of action ideas on equality and diversity. It is designed to accompany the resource, developed by the CDVEC Curriculum Development Unit, Equality and Diversity: Building a Culture of Equality in Our Society which provides a range of lessons on equality and diversity. Both resources are clearly based on human rights, which underpin the citizenship curricula in both jurisdictions. They are also available for download at www.reconciliation.ie

• Available to download here

Mainstreaming Equality Conference - Positive Duty: An Opportunity for Equality Mainstreaming?

Protection of Transgender People – Equality Authority welcomes Minister’s statement

Added: 07 Sep 2012

The Equality Authority today welcomed the announcement by the Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton TD, that she intends to provide legal recognition for the acquired gender of transgender people and to extend the protections of the equality legislation to them. The Minister made this announcement at the 4th European Transgender Council meeting inDublin, at Dublin City University.

• Read the Press Release

Request for Tender - Review and promote equality and diversity in the membership base of Chambers of Commerce

Invitation to the launch of an equality toolkit for Trade Unions

Date: Thursday 30th August 2012

Time: 5:00pm

Location: IBOA House, Stephen St Upper, Dublin 8

• Click here for more details

Equality Small Grants Fund

Equality News - Summer 2012

Added: 20 Jul 2012

The Summer 2012 edition of the Equality Authority's newsletter is now available to download.

• Download Equality News Summer 2012

Annual Report 2011

The Equality Authority's Annual Report for 2011 will be launched on Monday 9th July 2012 by Mr. Alan Shatter T.D., Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence.

• Download the Annual Report here
• Read the Press Release

Call for Equality Experts for the SME Sector

Call for Equality Experts for the Further Education and Training Sector

Added: 22 Jun 2012

The Equality Mainstreaming Unit operated by the Equality Authority now wishes to set up a panel of equality experts whose names will be shared with Further Education and Training Providers who wish to implement the following through support from the EMU:

Equality Mainstreaming packages in Further Education Services (VECs, Adult and Community Education, PLCs, etc). These might include: capacity-building of staff in implementing equality mainstreaming strategies, equality action planning, equality proofing, equality training, equality screening and impact assessments, with an aim to embed equality into the design and delivery of programmes.

• More details are available here

Request for Tenders Legal Analysis of Equality Case Law

Added: 21 Jun 2012

The Equality Authority seeks tenders from suitably qualified persons or organisations to undertake an analysis of Irish equality case law arising in the period 2008 to 2011 from the operation of the Employment Equality Acts 1998–2011 and the Equal Status Acts 2000–2011. The closing date for tenders in 12 July 2012. The full specification of the request for tenders is set out in the attached document entitled "Request for Tenders Legal Analysis of Equality Case Law".

• Full details of the RFT available here

Say No To Ageism Week - 4th to 8th June 2012

Added: 24 May 12

This year's Say No To Ageism campaign will run from the 4th to the 8th June.

• More details here

Equality Authority Welcomes Report of Working Group on Merger of the Equality and Human Rights Bodies

Added: 20 Apr 2012

The Equality Authority today welcomed the publication of the Report of the Working Group established by the Minister for Justice and Equality to scope the merger of the Equality Authority and the Irish Human Rights Commission.

• Read the full press release here

Equality Authority Welcomes Minister Quinn’s Announcement on Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Teachers

Multiple Disadvantage in Ireland - An equality Analysis of Census 2006

Added: 23 Mar 2012

This report examines disadvantages faced by members of groups identified by the nine grounds covered by the Equality Acts. This comprehensive analysis was made possible by access to the full Census 2006 Research Micro-data File. For the first time in Ireland, we were able to examine in a single study the consequences of membership across all of these groups and across five different outcomes. Using the Census data, there are enough members of small groups such as Travellers, other ethnic minorities and religious minorities to compare their situations with other groups.

We examine five different outcomes: low levels of education, being outside the labour market, unemployment, lower manual social class and lack of access to a car. The focus is on adults of working age (25 to 64 years).

• Download the report here
• Read the press release here