Equality Authority - Ireland

Source: Equality Authority

The Equality Authority was formed on foot of the Employment Equality Act 1998 and the Equal Status Act 2000 under the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.

The Equality Authority has a broad mandate to promote equality and to combat discrimination. This mandate covers nine grounds of gender, marital status, family status, age, sexual orientation, disability, race, religion and membership of the Traveller community. It addresses equality in the workplace, in the provision of goods, services, facilities and education, and in the operation of registered clubs. The Equality Authority has both an enforcement and a developmental role.

Disability is defined in the legislation as including total or partial absence of bodily or mental facilities, chronic disease, whether manifest or not, learning and personality disorders. It includes a condition, illness or disease which affects a person's thought processes, perception of reality, emotions or judgement or which results in disturbed behaviour and shall be taken to include a disability which exists at present, or which previously existed but no longer exists or which may exist in the future or which is imputed to a person.

The Board of the Equality Authority is appointed by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and comprises 12 members including an Independent Chair and Vice-Chair. Board members are drawn from employer organisations, employee organisations, and organisations and groups who have a knowledge of, or experience in, equality issues relating to gender, marital status, family status, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, race or membership of the Traveller Community. Board members serve a four year term.

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