News Archive
April 2012
Disability E-Learning Course for Public Service Staff
The National Disability Authority have developed an e-learning course which is available to anyone working in the public service in Ireland. The course is entitled Disability Equality Training for all Public Service Staff. For more information and to register for the course log on to http://elearning.nda.ie.
Mental Health Report
A report published by the Inspector of Mental health services today (4th April) has found that there has been an increase in the number of involuntary admissions to mental health services in 2011. The report has also found:
- There has been an improvement in the services being delivered to people with mental ill-health and that patients are more actively involved in their care and treatment plans.
- There has been a cultural shift that promotes the recovery rather than simply the management of patients.
- More specialised units for children have been provided resulting in a decrease in the number of children attending adult units. However, in 2011 just under a third of children were sent to adult units. Despite this decrease the Commission is still concerned about the number of children admitted to adult units.
- The development of appropriate mental health services in communities throughout the country is well underway.
- Mental health services have attracted a high level of priority. €35 million of the health budget has been ring-fenced for the development of community mental health services in 2012.
Multiple Disadvantage in Ireland-An Equality Analysis of Census 2006
At the end of March the Equality Authority and the ESRI published a report on Multiple disadvantage. Data from the 2006 census was analysed and the risk of disadvantage associated with the nine grounds was examined. The report investigated whether membership of two disadvantaged groups (e.g. being a woman and having a disability) results in worse outcomes. Some notable findings include:
Gender and Age
- In the 25-44 age group, a gender gap emerges in education in favour of women.
- Women in the ages groups 25-44 and 45-64 are less likely than men to participate in the labour market.
Family and Marital Status
- Older single men are more likely than married men to have low levels of education, to be outside of the labour market, to be unemployed or to be in the lower manual social class.
- Men and women in same sex relationships are better educated than their married counterparts. However, this does not translate in to better labour market circumstances or better living standards.
Disability
- Large differences were found in the risk of low education or people with a disability, particularly for people with a learning disability, compared with non-disabled adults.
Travellers
- The nomadic lifestyle of many Travellers combined with the prejudice they often encounter, creates severe problems in acquiring basic levels of education.
- Travellers are less likely than other white Irish adults to be in the labour market.
- Travellers’ disadvantage in education and labour market terms translates into poorer living circumstances.
Migration, Nationality and Ethnic Groups
- People from the ten countries that joined the EU in 2004 are better educated than the native population but are more likely to be in the relatively disadvantaged lower manual social class. African adults in the lower age group are most at risk in terms of disadvantage in terms or isk of unemployment.
Religion
- Muslims are disadvantaged in terms of education, non-participation in the labour market and unemployment. Most Muslims have been born outside of Ireland.
Supports for Mental Health
The Equality Committee have compiled some resources to educate and support teachers in relation to mental health. These may be found by clicking on the Useful Links section and scrolling down to Mental Health Supports.
Equality Tribunal-Pregnancy Discrimination and Victimisation case
The Equality Tribunal recently published it findings in relation to a case taken by Julie O’ Brien in relation to pregnancy discrimination and victimisation. The tribunal found that Ms. O’ Brien was discriminated on the grounds of gender and family status and that these complaints were previously dismissed by her employer. It was also found that her employer victimised and discriminatorily dismissed her. Ms. O’ Brien was awarded a total of €315,000 for the infringements of her statutory rights.
Section 37.1 of the Employment Equality Act
In February Fianna Fáil published legislation in relation to section 37 of the Employment Equality Act. They hope to change the provision in the Act that allows religious run institutions to discriminate from employing someone in order to uphold their ethos. Section 37 has the potential to discriminate against teachers who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or have a lifestyle opposite to the ethos of their institution. The INTO is monitoring this legislation closely.
March 2012
International Women’s Day
Last Thursday 8th March was International Women’s Day. This year’s theme is Connecting Girls, Inspiring Futures. Click on the following link for more information: www.internationalwomensday.com
ICTU Women’s Conference
On Thursday 1st and Friday 2nd March members from the INTO Equality Committee attended the ICTU Women’s Conference in Belfast. The theme of the conference was “Bearing the brunt, leading the response: Women and the economic crisis”. The opening address was delivered by Avril Hall-Callaghan, Chair of the NIC ICTU, whilst the keynote address was given by Sally Anne Kinahan, Assistant General Secretary, ICTU. Guest speakers on Thursday included, Sylvia Walby, Michelle Morris and Dr. Michelle O’ Sullivan.
On Friday morning, President Michael D. Higgins addressed the conference. He commended the role of women in the Irish Trade Union movement and paid tribute to the particularly effective style of leadership women bring. Earlier that morning, Andy Snoddy, Organiseringssekretariatet, 3F DK (Denmark) presented a session entitled “Organising Women in difficult times”.
An INTO motion on Women’s Representation within unions was duly passed at the conference. For full details of the conference see www.ictu.ie/equality.
European Equal Pay Day
On European Equal Pay Day (Friday March 2nd) figures released showed that female primary teachers earn on average less than their male colleagues. The average annual salary for a male teacher is €58,040 euro while the average for a female teacher is €53,766 euro. Although today a female teacher earns 93 percent of the salary of a male teacher this has grown from 87 percent in 2003. Statistics show that the percentage of primary teachers who are women has grown from 82.5% in 2003 to 86% in 2011. Despite the increasing number of female teachers at primary level they remain under represented in leadership roles. The percentage of principals who are women is 63 percent although this has increased from 51% in 2003. In overall terms average salaries for primary teachers have fallen over the past year from €62,000 for a male to €58,000 and from €56,000 for a female to €53,700. [Figures provided by the DES].
| Salary at January 2011 | Salary at January 2012 |
| Female Male | Female Male |
| €56,072.85 €62,671.55 | €53,766.75 €58,040.59 |
February 2012
Women and Men in Ireland in 2011
The CSO recently published a report entitled “Women and Men in Ireland in 2011”. The report presents statistics about men and women in a number of areas. These include population, employment, health, education, crime and; social cohesion and lifestyles.
With regards education the CSO found that women represented nearly three quarters of graduates in education. In the 2008/2009 school year women accounted for 84.7% and men accounted for 15.3% of teachers at primary level. Also in 2009 school management personnel were fairly evenly divided between women and men with women representing 53.4% of management at primary level.
The findings also present statistics in relation to employment. In 2011, there were 851,300 women and 970,000 men in employment in Ireland. Close to a quarter of women (23.7%) in employment were in professional occupations and just over a fifth (20.9%) were employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Married men worked longer hours in paid employment than married women, with 44.5% of married men working for 40 or more hours per week compared with 14.7% of married women.
The report noted that whilst women are better educated they only earn 73.1% of men’s incomes.
The report also found that men out-numbered women in all national decision-making structures in Ireland in 2011. Women accounted for just over one in three members of State Boards (34.7%) and only 13.3% of Government Ministers. Men also out-numbered women in all regional decision-making structures in Ireland in 2011, with men accounting for just under two-thirds of Vocational Education Committee members and over four-fifths of representatives in local authorities.
Download Report Women and Men in Ireland 2011
A press release from the CSO summarises the main findings CSO Summary Report
National survey of public attitudes to disability in Ireland
The National Disability Authority launched a report in mid January entitled “A National Survey of Public Attitudes to Disability in Ireland”. The study examined attitudes in key areas of everyday life including local communities, work life, education and family choices. The survey data is broken down in relation to attitudes towards people with physical, sensory, intellectual and mental health impairments.
The survey found a hardening of attitudes to people with disabilities in Ireland since the previous surveys in 2001 and 2006. Amongst the findings include the objection by 24% of adults to the inclusion of a child with mental health difficulties in to a class with their own child. Only 48% agree that children with sensory impairments should attend the same schools as those without disabilities. This is down from 58% in 2006.
Only 62% believe children with physical disabilities should attend the same schools as children without disabilities. 21% would object if a child with intellectual disability or autism was in the same class as their child. This is up significantly from 8% in 2006.
The survey also suggests that people with disabilities are twice as likely to be isolated from family and friends.
A National Survey of Public Attitudes to Disability in Ireland
A good week for mental health in the workplace
This week three documents were launched in relation to mental health and the workplace. The first of these was “Breaking the silence of suicide in the workplace”. This guide is designed to help employers to respond appropriately when the workplace is affected by suicide. Click to download guide
“Equality and Mental Health - how the law can help you" and "Equality and mental health - what the law means for your workplace" were launched by the Equality Authority in connection with See Change. The publications outline how current law protects the rights of people with mental health problems, and what employers need to do to protect these rights in the workplace. click to download publications
ICTU Women’s Conference
The ICTU Women’s Conference will take place on 1st and 2nd March 2012 in the Waterfront Hall in Belfast. INTO will be represented by nominees of Districts 2,4, 6,8,10,12,14 and 16. See www.ictu.ie for further details.
January 2012
The ESRI recently published a study entitled “Households and Family Structures in Ireland”. The study describes the family circumstances of couples, parents and children resident in Ireland, based on micro-data from the 2006 Census. See http://www.esri.ie/publications/latest_publications/view/index.xml?id=3389 for further details.
The recently published data on people with disabilities working in the public service, published by the National Disability Authority (NDA) shows that the proportion of staff with disabilities reported across the public service as a whole showed a slight decrease, from 2.9% in 2009 to 2.7% in 2010, thus falling short of the 3% target. This broke the pattern of annual incremental increases that had been achieved since the target became a statutory obligation on 31 December 2005. This decrease occurred against a backdrop of a fall in the total number of employees in the public bodies reporting under the Act from 219,653 in 2009 to 210,267 in 2010. See www.nda.ie for further details.
The NDA has also published a guide for employers on retaining people who acquire a disability in employment. Among the measures recommended include clear written policies on implementing early intervention, staying in touch, return to work assessment and planning, reasonable accommodation and option for phased return. See www.nda.ie for further details.
Equality Conference 2013
The Committee has decided to hold an Equality Conference in March 2013. Among the themes being considered is mental health and teaching. At the meeting, the Committee also launched a revised Equality section on the INTO website www.into.ie/ROI/Equality. The revised section includes current equality issues, resources and a history of the Equality Committee.
The Committee also finalised a submission to the Task Force on the Role of the CEC, making suggestions as to how participation of under-represented groups (including young people, women and those with caring responsibilities) could be improved on the CEC.
Coming Out in the Workplace
A new study reveals the factors that influence whether or not LGB workers disclose their sexual orientation at work. Those factors include the organisation’s policies and procedures and the level of support from co-workers. The survey also found that 62% of LGB workers (across all sectors) were out at work. For further details see:
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/health/2011/1115/1224307574681.html
Workplace Equality in the Recession
An Equality Authority/ ESRI study has found that having a formal equality policy impacts positively on employee’s perceptions of workplace fairness and on workers’ well-being. The study also found that flexible working arrangements are associated with positive organizational outcomes, such as higher job satisfaction. See www.equality.ie for further details of the study.