162. The representative of Ireland began his introduction by emphasizing Ireland’s involvement of women in politics, giving the example of the election of their second successive woman President, which followed an election in which four of the five candidates were women. Although the number of women in Parliament was still lower than desired, the Second Commission on the Status of Women had made several recommendations to the Government and political parties were seeking to increase women’s representation. The representative explained that the 1998 Employment Equality Act outlawed discrimination on nine grounds, including gender, marital status, family status, sexual orientation and membership in the “traveller” community.

176. The Committee welcomes legislative changes since the consideration of the initial report in 1989, including the adoption of the Criminal Law (Rape) (Amendment) Act (1990), the Criminal Justice Act (1993), the Domestic Violence Act (1996), the Parental Leave Act (1998), the Education Act (1998) and the Employment Equality Act (1998) and the forthcoming entry into force of the Equal Status Bill, published in April 1999. In particular, the Committee welcomes the amendment to the Constitution allowing for the introduction of divorce, and the subsequent adoption of the Family Law (Divorce) Act of 1996. The Committee also notes the pending establishment of an independent statutory-based Human Rights Commission, as well as consideration of the incorporation of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms into Irish law.

Link to full text of the report: Concluding Observations-CEDAW-Ireland-1999-eng