Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 April 2026
2483. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on the Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024 following the publication of the Joint Oireachtas Committee PLS report; when she expects the Bill to come before the Dáil for second stage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25154/26]
View answerIn November 2024, Government approved the publication of the General Scheme of the Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, which includes a number of legislative provisions arising from a review of Ireland’s equality legislation.
At the same time, approval was granted, in principle, for the introduction of a new equality ground of socio-economic disadvantage in Ireland’s equality legislation, subject to the completion of an assessment of the potential costs for the Exchequer and of the Enhanced SME test examining the potential impact on SMEs of the introduction of such an equality ground.
Detailed work has already been undertaken on assessing these and other impacts, including through consultation with relevant stakeholders, and drawing on
• academic studies from Ireland and abroad,
• submissions relating to this topic received as part of the Review of the Equality Acts,
• recent Private Member’s Bills, and
• the legislation of other jurisdictions, and rulings made in these jurisdictions on equality cases.
The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Equality undertook pre-legislative scrutiny of the General Scheme and issued its report in October 2025. Officials in this Department are considering the recommendations of the report before finalising this work.
