One in 10 adults discriminated against

More than 12% of the adult population have been discriminated against in the last two years, it emerged today.

New figures revealed a fifth of the disabled, 23% of lone parents, a quarter of non-Irish nationals, and 29% of the unemployed reported some form of prejudice.

The ESRI and the Equality Authority survey also showed rates of discrimination jumped to 31% among those of black, Asian or other ethnic origin.

It found that overall, men and women were equally likely to record discrimination but their experiences were concentrated in different settings.

Women reported prejudice in the workplace and accessing health services, while men were affected looking for work and accessing financial services.

More women also said they had been discriminated against because of their marital status, family status or gender, while age or nationality were listed by men.

The results were based on new analysis of the CSO’s Quarterly National Household Survey: Equality Module, which asked adults about their experience of discrimination in a range of different situations.

They show the highest rates of reported discrimination occurred while looking for work (5.8%) and in the workplace (4.8%), while the lowest were recorded for transport services, education and other public services.

Niall Crowley, of the Equality Authority, said the unemployed are not covered by the equality legislation but they emerge from this report as particularly vulnerable to discrimination.

“The report highlights that the social groups who report the highest levels of discrimination are the least likely to take action,” he continued.

“This suggests the need for increased investment in information campaigns, advocacy and legal supports.

“The report also identifies the need for new practices to eliminate discrimination particularly in financial services and housing sectors as well as in workplace recruitment.”

Dr Helen Russell, of the ESRI, said it is striking that some groups experience discrimination across a wide range of settings.

“For example, people with disabilities report higher levels of discrimination in all but one of the service settings investigated and in both of the work-related contexts,” she said.

“For other groups, discrimination is more context-specific, for example young people feel particularly discriminated against in shops, pubs or restaurants and accessing financial services.”