There have been major changes in disability policy in Ireland in the last few years. These began with the publication of the Report of the Commission on the Status of People with Disabilities, entitled A Strategy for Equality, in 1996. This report in turn was the result of a major consultative process involving people with disabilities.
The following are two agencies that promote equality measures:
» The Equality Authority: is an independent body was established on 18th October 1999. The Employment Equality Act (1998) and the Equal Status Act (2000) outlaw discrimination in employment, vocational training, advertising, collective agreements, the provision of goods and services and other opportunities to which the public generally have access on nine distinct grounds.
Discrimination is described in the Act as the treatment of a person in a less favourable way than another person is, has been or would be treated on any of the following grounds. These are:
- Gender
- Marital status
- Family status
- Age
- Disability
- Race
- Sexual orientation
- Religious belief
- Membership of the Traveller Community.
» The National Disability Authority (NDA): is an independent statutory agency established under the aegis of the Department of Justice,
Equality & Law Reform by the National Disability Authority Act 1999.
NDA strives to ensure that the rights and entitlements of people with disabilities are protected. It has the following functions:
- Act as a national body to assist in the coordination and development of disability policy
- Undertake research and develop statistical information for the planning, delivery and monitoring of programmes and services for people with disabilities
- Advise the Minister on standards for programmes and services and prepare codes of practice
- Monitor the implementation of standards and codes of practice
- Take the lead in both encouraging and recognising the promotion of equality of people with disabilities.
Authority members are drawn from all backgrounds and include people with disabilities, parents and carers of people with disabilities and people working in the disability field.
