Marriage poll helps our image on equality

The proportion of people who think that Ireland is a leader in Europe on human rights and equality rose by 15 percentage points after the Marriage Equality referendum in May.

A month earlier, 41% and 40% respectively viewed Ireland as a leader in Europe in matters of human rights and equality for its people, according to a Red C poll published yesterday by the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission.

After the referendum these figures increased to 54% and 55% respectively, based on a follow-up poll conducted in June.

However, 79%, believe we still have more to do when it comes to protecting human rights and equality in Ireland.

A total of 96% believe that laws protecting human rights are important in order to create a fairer, more equal society, while 93% care deeply about making Ireland a fairer place in which to live.

However, the poll indicates concerns that human rights are not respected within the health care system.

More people (44%) believe that patients and users of hospitals and health services do not experience respect for their dignity, compared to those who do (37%).

Opinion is sharply divided on a person’s ability to achieve their potential in our society, with 35% believing that prejudice, discrimination or neglect limits potential, compared to 38% who believe it does not.

Women are more likely to agree that people’s potential may be limited by discrimination.

Chief commissioner Emily Logan said: “The vast majority of people care deeply about making Ireland a fairer place in which to live, but those aspirations are not always realised.

“This survey shines a spotlight on the public’s concern that patients and vulnerable groups are not being treated with dignity in the health care system.

“All health care providers have a positive duty to respect the dignity, and to promote and protect the rights of those using services, including people with disabilities. The commission has a role to play in educating and raising awareness in the public sector about this positive duty.”

Ms Logan said that the vast majority of people want to live in a country that was inclusive and respected everyone’s dignity, “yet these hopes can only be realised by tackling discrimination and raising awareness about prejudice in all its forms”.

A total of 54% of people do not think that asylum seekers should have the right to work, housing or education until they are granted status, compared to 31% who do. Similarly, 55% do not think prisoners should have the same rights as everybody else compared to 29% who do.