Last week, IMPACT hosted a special one-day seminar entitled ‘Equality in the Workplace: a Reality?’  at its Dublin offices. Minister of State at the Justice Department, David Stanton made the opening address. He began by acknowledging that “trade unions like IMPACT have led the progress towards equality in the workplace.”

The minister urged members, staff and guests to read the ‘National Strategy for Women and Girls’ , emphasising its commitments on equality.

The minister also used the opportunity to announce that he will “shortly” be opening an LGTBQI equality consultation process. The minister’s full address is available here.

IMPACT’s general secretary, Shay Cody, responded to the minister’s remarks. Shay praised the minister for taking a genuine personal interest in his equality brief. Shay emphasised the role that the EU has played in advancing equality in Ireland.

He went on to say that a solution needs to be found for same-sex married couples who opted out of children’s and spouses’ pension schemes at a time when those weren’t options for them (see ‘other news in brief’ below).

Other speakers at the event included Edel McGinley, director of the Migrants’ Rights Centre Ireland; Martin Collins, co-director of Pavee Point; Laura Harmon, women in leadership officer with the National Women’s Council of Ireland; Simone Flannery of the Professional Footballers’ Association of Ireland; Barbara Brennan of See Change; and Senator Fintan Warfield.

The event discussion forums were facilitated by broadcaster and activist Dil Wickremasinghe.