It’ll soon be illegal to discriminate against gay teachers and nurses.
Changes to employment law will mean that schools or hospitals that follow a religious ethos can’t stop someone from getting a job or promotion because of their sexuality or marital status.
This includes gay and lesbian workers, unmarried parents or people who’re divorced.
Equality Minister Aodhan O’Riordan says they’re changing the law as there’ve been cases of people who’ve missed out on promotions.
“There are examples of it particularly in the teaching profession where people feel they didn’t get promotions that they may have deserved, or they didn’t get hired in the first place because of their sexual orientation or family status. This amendment to the act changes that”.
He added that once the law is passed, anyone who feels they’ve been discriminated against will be able to take a case.
“If they’re a member of the travelling community or a member of an ethnic minority or because of a disability – if they feel they’ve been discriminated against they can take a case. Before this amendment is passed, people will not be able to take a case because they’ll feel that their lifestyle is undermining the ethos of the school or hospital”.
“Therefore, legitimately, the school or hospital can do what they will but this amendment will change that”.
The bill to amend the legislation has already been passed by the Seanad and should be through the Dail before Christmas.
