The joint committee on children and equality has made 32 recommendations in its pre-legislative scrutiny report on the general scheme of the Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024.

The bill proposes to strengthen equality protections and provides for the revision and updating of provisions of the Employment Equality Act 1998, Equal Status Act 2000, Intoxicating Liquor Act 2003 and Workplace Relations Act 2015.

The committee recommends at a ground of socio-economic status be included in the legislation, backing a call to this effect from the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission.

It also says consideration should be given to expanding the scope of the bill, for example by reducing the burden placed on individuals by allowing civil society organisations to take equality cases on their behalf.

A consistent, rights-based, inclusive and child-centred definition of disability should be adopted that enshrines a rights-based approach, the committee has said.

It also suggests that consideration should be given to codifying the legislation to assist with its accessibility and public understanding.

The committee also recommends that a decision be taken as a matter of urgency regarding the transposition of the Standards Directives.

The Workplace Relations Commission should also receive appropriate resources to deal with the operational impact of the proposed amendments to ensure that all members of society facing discrimination and marginalisation can seek redress, it says.

Committee cathaoirleach Keira Keogh said the bill is “fundamentally important in terms of an opportunity for Ireland to progress its obligations under Articles 5, 27 and 28 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and ensure that the legislation provides robust, inclusive, and enforceable protections for all members of society facing discrimination and marginalisation”.

“Members are hopeful that the minister will give serious consideration to the implementation of the recommendations of the committee, and we also look forward to working closely with the minister to progress this very important piece of legislation through to enactment,” she added.