Equality Bill is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to combat discrimination and create a more equal society, FLAC tells Oireachtas Committee

17 July 2025

FLAC (Free Legal Advice Centres) appeared before the Joint Oireachtas Equality Committee this morning (17 July) as part of the pre-legislative scrutiny of the General Scheme of the Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024.
The General Scheme of the Equality Bill arises from the Review of the Equality Acts. FLAC campaigned for that review and for many of the reforms which are proposed in the General Scheme.
In particular FLAC welcomes that, if passed, the legislation will:
- massively increase the levels of compensation available to victims of discrimination (from €15,000 to €75,000 in cases concerning access to goods services, accommodation and education heard by the WRC),
- allow the WRC to hear discrimination complaints against licensed premises such as pubs and hotels (which are currently dealt with in the District Court which is less accessible, more adversarial and where there is a risk of costs),
- improve reasonable accommodation for people with disabilities (this proposal should be extended to apply to all providers of goods and services, rather than just certain large businesses and public bodies as the General Scheme currently proposes), and
- extend the very restrictive time limits for making a discrimination complaint from six months to one year. (FLAC believes that the time limits should not begin to run until any internal dispute mechanisms have been resolved).
FLAC has also highlighted the gaps in the General Scheme and where it could be improved. The Equality Bill should ban discrimination on the grounds of socio-economic status and gender identity. It should also bring State bodies like the Guards and the Irish Prison service clearly within the prohibition of discrimination.
FLAC has made a detailed written submission to the Committee which is endorsed by the Irish Network Against Racism and the Irish Council for Civil Liberties.

In her opening statement to Joint Committee, Eilis Barry, FLAC Chief Executive stated:

“FLAC are acutely aware of the limitations in the equality legislation, including gaps in its scope and grounds, procedural issues that make it difficult to make a claim, and the ineffective remedies especially in goods and services cases. We are also aware of the huge demand for information, advice and legal representation, in relation to this complex, convoluted and completely inaccessible legislation.

We are aware of this from the casework arising from our dedicated legal services for the Traveller, Roma and LGBTQI communities, our casework on behalf of people with disabilities, and the numerous NGOs that contact us all the time seeking advice and representation in equality cases…

The significance of the General Scheme cannot be overstated. While it requires improvement and expansion, it will be the most significant reform of the legislation in the last two decades. During that time we have seen a worrying rise in discrimination, prejudice and intolerance in this country. This requires strengthened equality legislation, which gives effect to our Constitution’s guarantee of equality before the law and EU requirements. Equality legislation is the expression and repository of our shared values of respect and dignity - values that underpin our belief in human worth. The ambition we bring to this legislation is a measure of our concern for creating and progressing a caring, inclusive and flourishing society.

Some of the measures outlined in the General Scheme have the potential to breathe fresh life into the prohibition of discrimination and to encourage the development of a culture of compliance with equality law. If enacted as it is currently drafted, the Bill will have a very positive impact, especially for Travellers and people with disabilities.”

ENDS.

Eilis Barry’s full opening statement to the Joint Committee may be accessed here.
FLAC’s full written submission to the Committee may be accessed here.

FLAC (Free Legal Advice Centres) is an independent legal, human rights and equality organisation, which works in a number of different ways to promote equal access to justice:

FLAC provides early and preventive legal assistance through a Telephone Information & Referral Line and Free Legal Advice phone clinics.
As an Independent Law Centre, FLAC takes on a number of cases in the public interest each year which may have an impact beyond the individual.
It also operates a Roma Legal Clinic, a Traveller Legal Service and, until recently, a clinic for the LGBTQIA+ community.
FLAC operates PILA which facilitates NGOs to obtain legal assistance from private lawyers via its pro bono referral scheme.
FLAC makes policy recommendations in relation to areas of law that most impact on people living poverty and disadvantage, including equality and anti-discrimination law, social welfare law, credit and debt law, housing law, human rights law, and access to justice. This includes policy reports and submissions to national and international bodies, including Oireachtas Committees and human rights monitoring bodies.

FLAC played a central role in the Review of the Equality Acts:

FLAC has significant first-hand experience of the equality legislation. As an independent law centre, we frequently provide representation in cases under the equality legislation before the Workplace Relations Commission (the ‘WRC’) and the courts. In 2024 alone, FLAC provided representation in relation to 102 complaints (or potential complaints) under the equality legislation. These cases involved alleged discrimination in employment and by shops, hotels, schools, healthcare providers, childcare providers and providers of public transport. We acted in the first successful cases on the housing assistance ground, and the first ever successful case on behalf of a Roma woman concerning discrimination in a retail setting.
Along with INAR (the Irish Network Against Racism), FLAC provided training to lay advocates to support people bringing claims under the grounds of race and membership of the Traveller community. There was significant demand for access to the training.
The reform of the equality legislation has been a priority for FLAC - from our casework we are acutely aware if its limitations and the difficulties in making a claim. FLAC campaigned successfully for a comprehensive Review of the Equality Acts. Roderic O’Gorman TD, the then Minister for Equality, announced the Review when he delivered the closing address at FLAC’s equality law seminar series in June 2021.
FLAC was invited to become a member of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission’s (‘IHREC’) Advisory Committee on the Future of Equality Legislation (an expert group established to support IHREC’s engagement with the Review). The report to arise from the work of that group adopted FLAC’s detailed recommendations on access to justice for victims of discrimination.
FLAC has assisted and facilitated civil society engagement with the Review. A number of NGOs working with disadvantaged and vulnerable communities sought our assistance in making submissions to the Review in light of the complexity of the legislation and the importance of the issues under consideration to their communities. Having discussed their issues with the legislation, in November 2021, we published an accessible guide on making a submission to the Review. In the same month, FLAC and IHREC launched a joint project, Equality Action, to support and strengthen civil society engagement with the Review.
The General Scheme which has resulted from the Review of the Equality Acts, reflects many of FLAC’s recommendations. FLAC made detailed submissions to the Review and we believe that that our recommendations provide a blueprint for a next generation equality framework which promotes full equality in practice and achieves transformative change. We have submitted draft legislative amendments to the Department which would give effect to our recommendations.