Big fall in equality and human rights-related cases

The number of cases taken by State equality and human rights bodies has collapsed by up to 66 per cent, according to a report to be published today.

A new study shows that between 2008 and 2011, the number of cases dealt with by the Equality Tribunal fell by 33 per cent.

In addition, the number of cases supported by the Equality Authority fell by close to 66 per cent, while the Irish Human Rights Commission granted legal assistance in a total of three cases in 2011.

The Equality and Rights Alliance, a coalition of civil society groups, said the drop in the number of cases came at a time when these bodies were being denuded of resources.

The Government, however, has insisted it is committed to promoting equality and human rights. It says the merger currently under way between the Equality Authority and Human Rights Commission – to form the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission – will promote these issues in a more "efficient, effective and coherent way".

The study's findings are contained in a new report, Access to Justice and
Under-reporting of Discrimination and Human Rights Abuses, due to be published today.

The Irish State has obligations to respect, protect and fulfil human rights under international UN human rights conventions, to which the State is a party.

The merger processes involving the Equality Authority, the Irish Human Rights Commission and the Equality Tribunal are scheduled to be completed by the end of 2013.

A survey by the Central Statistics Office on discrimination in 2010 found that 12 per cent of Irish people over the age of 18 experienced discrimination in the preceding two years. This equates to some 380,000 people.

The highest rates of discrimination were reported by people from non-white ethnic backgrounds (29 per cent), unemployed people (22 per cent), non-Irish nationals (20 per cent), people who are not Catholic (18 per cent) and people with a disability (14 per cent).