What the course asks you to know
On the course: CSPE strand 3, Exploring democracy, asks you to list the nine grounds on which discrimination is illegal in Irish law.
Those nine grounds come from the Equal Status Acts 2000. The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) lists them in the same order used below. Learn the nine first. Housing assistance is an extra ground that applies only to accommodation.
Equality law sits alongside the rights set out in Bunreacht na hÉireann.See how the Constitution protects fundamental rights.
The nine grounds, with plain examples
Each ground names a reason it is illegal to treat someone less favourably in the situations the Acts cover.
| Ground | What it covers (plain example) |
|---|---|
| Gender | Being treated worse because you are a woman, a man, or another gender covered by the Acts |
| Civil status | Being married, single, separated, divorced or widowed |
| Family status | Being pregnant, or being a parent or carer for a child |
| Sexual orientation | Being treated worse because of who you are attracted to |
| Religion | Your religious belief, background or outlook, or having none |
| Age | Being treated worse because of how old you are |
| Disability | A physical, mental, intellectual or sensory disability |
| Race | Colour, nationality, or ethnic or national origin |
| Membership of the Traveller community | Belonging to the Traveller community |
Housing assistance was added by the Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2015. It applies when someone is refused accommodation or related services because they receive rent supplement, housing assistance payment (HAP), or another social welfare payment. It does not replace the nine.
Where the Equal Status Acts apply
Common assumption: The Equal Status Acts are the main law for workplace discrimination.
In fact: Employment discrimination is mainly covered by the Employment Equality Acts, which use the same nine grounds.
Common assumption: Every unfair decision is automatically discrimination under the Acts.
In fact: The law applies in defined situations and has exceptions; the facts and the relevant service or accommodation matter.
Common assumption: Housing assistance replaces one of the nine grounds.
In fact: It is a separate additional ground for accommodation, added by the 2015 amendment.
The Equal Status Acts cover goods, services, accommodation and education. That includes shops, restaurants, hotels, landlords, schools and many public services.
Employment is mainly covered by the Employment Equality Acts, which use the same nine grounds.
What happens if someone is refused a service
If a school or shop refuses a service because of one of the nine grounds, that refusal can be challenged under the Equal Status Acts. Complaints under these Acts are usually made to the Workplace Relations Commission.
IHREC explains the grounds, how to check if your situation is covered, and how to complain. Start with its guide to the Equal Status Acts before you fill in any form.Read the IHREC Equal Status Acts guide.
Questions to test yourself
- List the nine grounds of discrimination without looking.
- What does family status mean in plain English?
- Where do the Equal Status Acts apply, and which Acts mainly cover work?
- Why is housing assistance not one of the nine on the CSPE list?