Annual Report 2004.pdf - Equality Authority

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Enquiries to the PublicInformation Centre 2004The Equality Authority has an informationfunction in relation to:• The Employment Equality Acts 1998and 2004• The Equal Status Acts 2000 to 2004• The Maternity Protection Acts 1994and 2004• The Adoptive Leave Act 1995• The Parental Leave Act 1998Information strategies are managedthrough a range of alternative routes.These include:• A voicemail option with FrequentlyAsked Questions (FAQs) for theMaternity, Parental and AdoptiveLeave Acts• Frequently Asked Questions section onthe web site.• The website contact system ofinfo@equality.ie• Provision of materials throughCitizen Information Centres and Cityand County Libraries.• Booklets providing information on allfive pieces of legislation.• Taking telephone calls through thepublic information centre.• Providing information videos on theequality legislation.2004 was a year of considerable legislativechange. The Equality Act 2004 wasenacted which seeks to incorporateEU Equality Directives into the equalitylegislation. The Maternity Protection Act(Amendment) was enacted in October2004. The amendment of the AdoptiveLeave Act progressed through theOireachtas and new parental leavelegislation was introduced in theOireachtas in December 2004.This has required significant work on theEquality Authority information materials.It has also enhanced awareness of thelegislation and demand for theseinformation materials.The Equality Authority commissioned anational media advertising campaign inlate 2004 to inform the general public ofimportant changes introduced by theEquality Act 2004. This has resulted in agrowth in enquiries on the equalitylegislation in early 2005, reversing thedownward trend that emerged in 2004.2004 was the first full year ofimplementation of the Intoxicating LiquorAct 2003, there was also a significantdownturn in enquiries under the EqualStatus Acts, as cases against licensedpremises are now dealt with at DistrictCourt level. The Equality Authority has notEquality Authority Annual Report 2004 • 71
een accorded an information functionunder the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2003.Key Information Statistics:The total number of information querieson the five pieces of legislation rose 4.24%from 10,799 in 2003 to 11,257 in 2004.The total number of publicationsdownloaded from the Equality Authoritywebsite in 2004 was 125,501 compared to65,109 in 2003, an increase of 93%.The number of information queries on theEqual Status Acts fell from 2143 in 2003 to1614 a decrease of almost 25%. Under theEqual Status legislation the greatestnumber of enquiries came from thefollowing grounds: Disability, Age, Race,Gender and Sexual Orientation. The mainissues enquired about include provision ofservice, educational establishments, andaccess to pubs and nightclubs.The number of information queries on theEmployment Equality Acts fell from 3,011in 2003 to 2,621 in 2004, a decrease ofalmost 13%. Under Employment Equalitylegislation the greatest number ofenquiries came from the followinggrounds: Gender, Race, Age and Disability.The main issues enquired about includeworking conditions, access toemployment, harassment and dismissal.Maternity protection, parental leave andadoptive leave legislation made up for62.37% of the total number of enquiries tothe Public Information Centre in 2004 upfrom 52.27% in 2003.The number of information queries on theMaternity Protection Act rose significantly2951 in 2003 to 4375 in 2004, this 48% risewas particularly noticeable in the lastthree months of the year.The number of information queries on theParental Leave Act rose 56.4% from 1604 in2003 to 2509 in 2004.The number of information queries on theAdoptive Leave Act rose by over 33% from104 in 2003 to 138 in 2004.Leave entitlements (almost 20%) andPaternity leave (10%) were the main areasof enquiry under the Maternity legislationwith leave entitlements (33%) and ForceMajeure Leave (14.6%) the main areas ofenquiry under the Parental Leave Act.Leave entitlement accounted for 31% of allenquiries under the Adoptive Leave Act.72 • Equality Authority Annual Report 2004
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The Equality AuthorityAnnual Report
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ContentsFrom the Chairperson p.5The
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From the ChairpersonMrs Karen Erwin
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The BoardDuring the course of the y
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From the ChiefExecutive Officer
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About The MaternityProtection Acts1
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uilding up and to pursue a level of
Page 19 and 20:
“Ageing and Labour Market Partici
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PartnershipPartnership with a broad
Page 24 and 25: Casework ReportIn 2004, there were
Page 26 and 27: level of awards made by the Equalit
Page 28 and 29: espondent’s chief witnesses had d
Page 30 and 31: Court Judge to extend the time for
Page 32 and 33: In the Circuit Court, Judge Delahun
Page 34 and 35: change its policy so that the sames
Page 36 and 37: The second claimant was a full time
Page 38 and 39: the amount spent on all types ofdis
Page 40 and 41: Discriminating ClubsOne of the powe
Page 42 and 43: contractual employment rights toget
Page 44 and 45: Caucasoid/Caucasian. Taking into ac
Page 46 and 47: second test was done by another ass
Page 48 and 49: was dismissed and submitted that he
Page 50 and 51: 5. Age and GenderThe claimant was e
Page 52 and 53: The Equality Authority requested th
Page 54 and 55: Allergic Reaction” and has to use
Page 56 and 57: the Labour Court. The case and adis
Page 58 and 59: Authority, concern was also express
Page 60 and 61: Representation / Assistance inbring
Page 62 and 63: EQUAL STATUSRecommendations in case
Page 64 and 65: EMPLOYMENT EQUALITYRecommendations
Page 66: Employment Equality - Casework Acti
Page 69 and 70: Equal Status Act, 2000 - Casework A
Page 71 and 72: Equal Status Act, 2000 - Casework A
Page 76 and 77: Queries under the Equal Status Actf
Page 78 and 79: Queries under the Maternity Protect
Page 80: A Thematic Approachto Equality
Page 83 and 84: Theme 1Building equality in the ser
Page 85 and 86: Joint Conference with the Irish Nat
Page 87 and 88: eports. This book brings together t
Page 89 and 90: A report of the process of implemen
Page 91 and 92: Theme 2Contributing to a moreaccess
Page 93 and 94: Employment Equality Reviewand Actio
Page 95 and 96: Job Centre, the National Youth Coun
Page 97 and 98: The programme of work under this me
Page 99 and 100: the preparation of an equality poli
Page 101 and 102: Theme 3Developing initiatives speci
Page 103 and 104: Making AccessHappen - jointpublicat
Page 105 and 106: Intercultural Workplaces was launch
Page 107 and 108: Theme 4Supporting the development o
Page 109 and 110: The Equal Status Acts2000 to 2004 -
Page 111 and 112: (iii) Fees paid by non-nationalsIn
Page 113 and 114: It recommended broadening theprovis
Page 115 and 116: policy/programme is also gathered.B
Page 117 and 118: Survey participants were asked if t
Page 119 and 120: acism and xenophobia. These themesi
Page 121 and 122: Theme 5:Addressing the specificsitu
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Freedom of Information Requests in
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Mailing ListThe Board review of com
Page 127 and 128:
An initiative was also taken to eng
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Appendix 1The publications of theEq
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the Irish National Teachers Organis
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as giving voice to their concerns a
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Charting the Equality Agenda(by Kat
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Towards a Workplace Equality Infras
Page 140 and 141:
National Council on Ageing and Olde
Page 142 and 143:
Irish Congress of Trade UnionsIrish
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current criteria. His/her decision
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The Equality Authority2 Clonmel Str
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