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Congress launches Equality Briefing Paper

By David Joyce, Policy Officer - Equality and Development Irish Congress of Trade Unions

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions has recently launched an equality briefing paper at their Biennial Delegate Conference (BDC) in Tralee in July.

This paper is based on a series of papers commissioned by Congress as part of the European Year of Equal Opportunities for All and identifies key equality issues in Irish workplaces including: Access to workplaces; Equality Pay Gap; Work Life Balance; Childcare; Workplace culture; and Planning for equality.

The briefing document also makes recommendations for changes in both law and practice in these areas.

The launch was attended by over 50 people at a lunchtime event during the Congress BDC (http://www.ictu.ie/bdc09/) at which there was also a very lively debate on a number of equality related motions. The meeting was chaired by outgoing Congress President Patricia McKeown and was addressed by Congress Equality Officer, David Joyce and, speaking at one of her first official engagements, Renee Dempsey, new CEO of the Equality Authority.

It was the first opportunity for trade union delegates to meet with Ms Dempsey who outlined her commitment to equality and expressed great excitement about her role as CEO. Ms Dempsey answered a number of questions from delegates concerned at the Equality Authority's ability to carry out its remit given the cuts to the Equality Authority's budget. Ms Dempsey acknowledged that times were difficult but that the Equality Authority pledged to work as hard as it can with whatever resources were available during these difficult times. She pledged to retain the Authority's independent role and looked forward to working with the trade union movement.

Congress acknowledges the support of the Equality Authority in getting the paper to completion and also the financial support of the European Commission.

Further details on the equality briefing paper are available at (http://www.ictu.ie/equality/policypapers.html).