Equality for Some

Recent laws in Ireland (Employment Equality Act and the Equal Status Act) recognises and protects people from being treated differently under, the now famous “9 Grounds”. Conveniently, this is also a good starting point in saying that the government recognises that there are different groups of people in the modern Ireland of today (and we can give them many titles from disadvantaged, special needs, minority groups etc). For me I prefer not to use any label and to say that there are many different types of people with unique problems and issues that need to be addressed. For those not aware of the “9 Ground”, they are:

· The gender ground: A man, a woman or a transsexual person (specific protection is provided for pregnant employees or in relation to maternity leave);
· The marital status ground: Single, married, separated, divorced or widowed;
· The family status ground: A parent of a person under 18 years or the resident primary carer or a parent of a person with a disability;
· The sexual orientation ground: Gay, lesbian, bisexual or heterosexual; (The Court of Justice in PSV held that discrimination against a transsexual constituted discrimination on the grounds of sex.)
· The religion ground: Different religious belief, background, outlook or none;
· The age ground: This applies to all ages above the maximum age at which a person is statutorily obliged to attend school;
· The disability ground: This is broadly defined including people with physical, intellectual, learning, cognitive or emotional disabilities and a range of medical conditions;
· The race ground: A particular race, skin colour, nationality or ethnic origin;
· The Traveller community ground: People who are commonly called Travellers, who are identified both by Travellers and others as people with a shared history, culture and traditions, identified historically as a nomadic way of life on the island of Ireland.
(Should you want any more information the first port of call should be the Equality Authorities Website at http://www.equality.ie/. – as they are experiencing some staffing problems at the moment)

This brings me to the problem. The Wexford Town & Environs Development Plan is currently on public display and there is a good attempt at a policy in the community development section as follows:

(page 53 – section 6.1.4)

“6.1.4 Special Need Groups
Some groups will have more barriers than others in accessing the same opportunities, services and facilities, whether through unemployment, disability, age, gender, location, origin or language barriers. These groups include children/young people, older people, women, people who are ill or those with various disabilities, members of the travelling community and members of Irelands existing and new ethnic minority groups.”

It seems to be a deliberate omission to not include the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community (i.e. the ground of “sexual orientation”) as the Council are well aware at this stage that we exist and that we want recognition. To rectify this matter and to force the council to recognize all the different groups we would ask that you write into the Council asking that the above paragraph be changing to read along the lines of

“6.1.4 Special Need Groups
Some groups will have more barriers than others in accessing the same opportunities, services and facilities, whether through unemployment, disability, age, gender, location, origin or language barriers. These groups include children/young people, older people, women, people who are ill or those with various disabilities, members of the travelling community, members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community, those of a different religious or ethnic or race origin and members of Irelands existing and new ethnic minority groups.”


Your submission should be in sent in immediately by post (on or before 28th January) to –

Forward Planning, Planning Department, Wexford County Council, County Hall, Wexford.

OR

The Town Clerk, Wexford Borough Council,Crescent Quay, Wexford.

or email niall.mcdonnell@wexfordcoco.ie

The full draft plan and maps can be found at:

http://www.wexford.ie/wex/Departments/Planning/DevelopmentPlans/ProposedAmendmentsDraftWexfordTownPlan/


You should also contact the Wexford Borough Councillors as follows:

Mayor:

Howlin, Ted
Labour
Rocklands, Wexford
Work phone: 053-9124686
Mobile phone: 087-9788959
Home phone:
Fax number:
Email: ted.howlin@wexfordcoco.ie

Deputy Mayor:

Carr, Thomas
Labour
76 St. Aidan's Crescent
Wexford
Work phone:
Mobile phone: 087 976 9080
Home phone: 053 914 1627
Fax number:
Email: tommycarr@eircom.net



Byrne, Gus
Fianna Fáil
19 Thomas Clarke Place
Wexford
Work phone:
Mobile phone:
Home phone: 053 912 2408
Fax number:
Email: gusbyrne@wexcouncil.com


Fenlon, Anna
Fine Gael
1 Wolfe Tone Villas,
Wexford
Work phone: 053-9146965
Mobile phone: 087-6615346
Home phone:
Fax number:
Email: anna.fenlon@wexfordcoco.ie


Furlong, Willie
Non Party
6 Harbour View
Maudlintown
Wexford
Work phone:
Mobile phone: 085 1426411
Home phone:
Fax number:
Email:



Hynes, David
Labour
48 Davitt Road South,
Wexford
Work phone:
Mobile phone: 087 2290248
Home phone: 053 912 2838
Fax number:
Email: dhynes@indigo.ie


Kelly, Anthony
Sinn Fein
3 Glenbrook
Wexford
Work phone:
Mobile phone: 087 1361785
Home phone:
Fax number:
Email: cllrakelly@eircom.net


Lawlor, George
Labour
12 Richmond Drive
Wexford
Work phone:
Mobile phone: 086 8164128
Home phone:
Fax number:
Email: geolaw@indigo.ie



Nolan, Paddy
Fianna Fáil
9 Hantoon Road
Wexford
Work phone: 053 914 2233
Mobile phone:
Home phone: 053 912 2074
Fax number:
Email:


Reck, Padge
Non Party
"Sunrise", Mulgannon,
Wexford
Work phone: 053-9144666
Mobile phone: 087-6175675
Home phone:
Fax number:
Email: padge.reck@wexfordcoco.ie


Roche, Philomena
Fine Gael
Ballygoman
Barntown
Wexford
Work phone:
Mobile phone: 087 2058442
Home phone: 053 912 0618
Fax number:
Email: cllrphilroche@eircom.net


Ryan, Joe
Labour
40 Cromwellsfort Drive
Wexford
Work phone:
Mobile phone: 087 6149350
Home phone: 053 912 3031
Fax number:
Email: cllrjoeryan@eircom.net