Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 January 2026
847. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the response her Department plans to make to the intervention of the UN Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights regarding the Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5608/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra848. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department is undertaking an SME impact analysis on the Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024; what this analysis entails; when will it be finished; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5609/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra863. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the reason for the omission of the Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024 from the Spring Legislative Programme; and when it will be progressed. [5906/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra888. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality when the plans to bring forward the Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024 to introduce socio-economic disadvantage as a ground for discrimination in equality legislation; the reason this bill was not included in the Spring Legislative Programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6255/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 847, 848, 863 and 888 together.
In 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, including those relating to the introduction of a socio-economic disadvantage ground, before finalising this work.
The UN Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights has welcomed the proposed introduction of this ground and has requested an update on this. I will be happy to provide this as work continues.
While this legislation has not been included as a priority for the spring legislative programme, policy work is ongoing, and officials are continuing to engage with the drafter assigned to this Bill.
