From Ageism to Age Equality: Addressing the Challenges ...

The Equality AuthorityThe Equality Authority has the statutory mandate of working towards the elimination ofdiscrimination and promoting equality of opportunity in employment and in matters covered by theEqual Status Acts 2000 to 2004. It is also given a public information function in regard to theEmployment Equality Acts 1998–2004, the Equal Status Acts 2000–2004, the Adoptive Leave Act1995 and the Parental Leave Act 1998. The Equality Authority may prepare Codes of Practice which,if approved by the Minister, are admissible in evidence in proceedings. The Equality Authority has apower to undertake or sponsor research. The Equality Authority has a power to conduct an inquiry.The Equality Authority may invite particular businesses to voluntarily carry out an equality reviewand prepare an action plan or may itself carry out an equality review and prepare action plans (inrelation to businesses with more than fifty employees). An equality review is an audit of the level ofequality of opportunity and an examination of the policies, practices and procedures to determinewhether these are conducive to the promotion of equality. An action plan is a programme of actionsto be undertaken to further the promotion of equality of opportunity.80Any person who considers that s/he has been discriminated against can apply to The EqualityAuthority for assistance in bringing proceedings under the Employment Equality Acts, the EqualStatus Acts and the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2003. The Equality Authority has a broad discretion togrant assistance if it is satisfied that the case raises an important point of principle or it appears toThe Equality Authority that it is not reasonable to expect the person to adequately present the casewithout assistance. The Equality Authority can also initiate proceedings in its own name where thereis a general practice of discrimination, where an individual has not referred a complaint and where itis not reasonable to expect the person to refer a claim, or where there is discriminatory advertising.Conference Proceedings