Disadvantaged Groups Remain Discriminated Against without Changes to Legislation, Oireachtas Committee Hears

Speaking at the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Equality today, Andrew Kelly, community activist with ATD Ireland and member of the Alliance, spoke on the impacts of unfair treatment he faced due to his socio-economic status. This discrimination comes with no protection in our legislation, despite it being one of the most common types of discrimination people experience in Irish society1.

Mr. Kelly said:

“Can you imagine a father from a disadvantaged area goes for multiple jobs interviews, he has all the qualifications, but he doesn’t get the job because he is from this certain area, (the accent, the postcode) can you imagine the mental torture that he is going through?”

Ms. Gorman, also a member of the Alliance, urged the Committee to add socio-economic status as a ground in this legislation at this point. Eleven EU countries have added measures into their laws and policies related to socio-economic status, and Ireland risks falling further behind without taking this step. Legislation is key to begin to promote equality and dignity for the people impacted. This discrimination takes place across several areas in society, from accessing employment, to interactions with health services and with An Garda Síochána.

She said:

“We should be proud of having robust protections in our society that aim to leave no one behind. Now is the opportunity to realise this aim and add disadvantaged socio-economic status into our legislation.”