Equality legislation - McDowell’s dangerous precedent

WORRYING signs of creeping authoritarianism, mixed with a growing disregard for the interests of minority groups, are manifest in the proposal

Having recently snubbed a Dáil committee probe into the Government’s blocking of a UN treaty on rights for disabled people, the minister now intends ramming legislation through the house to remove publicans from the remit of the Equality Tribunal. Instead, they would be subject to the District Court in discrimination cases.

Astonishingly, no action group, including the tribunal itself, was consulted by Mr McDowell. Understandably, this proposal is causing grave concern among disabled people, Travellers, women, the Irish Council of Civil Liberties, gays, lesbians, and other minority groups.