Proposed Changes Under the General Scheme of the Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024

In 2021, the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth announced a comprehensive review of the equality legislation with a view to the promotion of equality and the elimination of discrimination. Following from this review and the requirement to implement the EU Pay Transparency Directive, the Government recently published the General Scheme of the Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004 (“the Bill”). The Bill proposes a number of significant amendments to the equality legislation, namely to the Equal Status Act 2000 (“the ES Act”), the Employment Equality Act 1998-2015 (“the EEA”), the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2003 and the Workplace Relations Act 2015.  The key proposals in relation to the EEA and the ES Act are outlined below.

Part II of the Bill proposes a number of amendments to the Employment Equality Acts 1998 -2015

Head 4 provides for pay transparency prior to employment. This proposed amendment transposes part of Article 5 of the EU Pay Transparency Directive requiring employers to provide information regarding pay levels or ranges either in a job advertisement or in advance of an interview. The proposed amendment however goes further than what the Directive provides for by requiring employers to provide it in the advertisement.

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