A BILL TO be tabled by Senator Averial Power today aims to stop discrimination against teachers and medical professionals on the basis of their sexual orientation.
If passed, the new legislation would make it illegal for schools and hospitals to discriminate against gay, lesbian and bisexual staff or potential hires.
Ahead of the Seanad session this afternoon, Power said that as the law currently stands, a school or hospital can claim that hiring a gay teacher, doctor or nurse would undermine its ethos.
Under Section 37 of the Employment Equality Act, institutions run by religious institutions or orders can bypass anti-discrimination measures “where it is reasonable to do so in order to maintain the religious ethos of the institution”.
With this Bill, Fianna Fáil hopes to “change this situation”. If enacted, staff members will still have to demonstrate respect for their employer’s ethos and not actively seek to undermine it. However, schools and hospitals will not be permitted to treat staff or potential staff differently simply because of their sexual orientation or marital/civil status.
The Bill also offers extra protections to teachers who are separated, divorced or unmarried with children.
Members of Fine Gael and Labour, including Education Minister Ruairi Quinn, have indicated their support for such legislation and Power is hopeful that her Bill will receive cross-party support later today.
“It is important that all parties cooperate to end this unjust discrimination as soon as possible,” she concluded.
Earlier this month, Quinn told the ASTI annual congress that he was determined to see new rules enacted, citing that a commitment had been made in the Programme for Government.
The Gay and Lesbian Equality Network, a variety of teachers’ unions in Ireland and Gay Doctors Ireland have all previously said that Section 37 of the Employment Equality Act has been a source of anxiety for people.
The debate is to begin at 4pm and can be watched live here.
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