Annual Report 2004.pdf - Equality Authority

uilding up and to pursue a level ofcasework that better matched theresources available to the EqualityAuthority. Progress has been made on thisbacklog. However, there are continuingdifficulties in this area due to the backlogof cases in the Equality Tribunal. Despitethis decrease, the number of casefilesworked on during 2004 remains at asignificantly high level.One significant and regrettable feature of2004 has been reductions in the level ofprotection against discrimination affordedby the provisions of the EmploymentEquality Acts and the Equal Status Acts.Those reductions have resulted fromprovisions in the Social Welfare(Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2004 andthe Residential Tenancies Act 2004. BothActs introduced discrimination againstcohabiting same sex partners by limitingtheir definition of cohabitation toheterosexual couples. These provision maybe in breach of the European conventionon Human Rights. These Acts reduced theprotections afforded by the Equal StatusActs because Section 14 of the EqualStatus Acts exempts action required byanother statute. Further reductions in thelevel of protection have resulted fromamendments introduced into equalitylegislation by the Equality Act 2004. Theexemptions contained in Section 14 of theEqual Status Acts were broadened toinclude certain measures in relation tonon nationals that are not now prohibitedby the Acts. The successful outcomes oftwo cases, one relating to agediscrimination under the EmploymentEquality Acts and one relating to nonnationals and access to grant schemesunder the Equal Status Acts were reversed.PracticeThe second trend evident in the work ofthe Equality Authority is the emphasis onpractice. This can be seen in relation tothe workplace, schools and health sectororganisations. The emphasis on practice isabout supporting change in how businessis done in these fields to include explicitequality objectives and initiatives.The Equality Authority has continued itswork with the social partners (Congressand IBEC) on the Framework Committeefor Equal Opportunities at the Level ofEnterprise and on the FrameworkCommittee for Work Life Balance. Thework of these committees providesleadership, expert support, resources andinformation and encouragement forenterprises and organisations to moreeffectively promote equality andaccommodate diversity in the workplace.A planned and systematic approach toequality has been identified by thecommittee for equal opportunities as akey theme in this work. Enterprises and14 • Equality Authority Annual Report 2004