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New Research Maps the Social Distribution of Discrimination in Ireland

27/05/2008

Just over 12% of Irish adults feel that they have been discriminated against in the preceding two years according to a new report published by the ESRI and the Equality Authority. Rates of reported discrimination rise to 23% among lone parents, 31% among those of Black, Asian or Other ethnicity, 24% among non-Irish nationals, 20% among people with disabilities and 29% amongst the unemployed.

Overall, men and women are equally likely to record discrimination but their experiences are concentrated in different settings. Women are more likely to report discrimination in the workplace and accessing health services, while men are more likely to report discrimination while looking for work and accessing financial services. Women were more likely to report that they had been discriminated against because of their marital status, family status or gender, while men were more likely to feel discriminated against on the grounds of their age or nationality/ethnicity.

The results are based on new analysis of the CSO'sQuarterly National Household Survey:Equality Module, which asked Irish adults about their experience of discrimination in a range of different situations. The results show that the highest rates of reported discrimination occur while looking for work (5.8%) and in the workplace (4.8%). In services, reported discrimination is highest for accessing housing and using financial services such as banks, and insurance services. The lowest rates of subjective discrimination are recorded for transport services, education and 'other public services'.

Setting by setting analysis shows that different groups are at risk of discrimination in different situations. Key findings in relation to services were:

• Housing/Accommodation:4% of respondents felt discriminated against in this domain. Those with higher than average risk were minority ethnic groups, the unemployed, the economically inactive, those aged 18-44, people with disabilities, lone parents and couples with children.
• Financial Institutions: 3.7% of respondents reported discrimination in this domain. Those at higher risk were young people (18-25), men, those of Black ethnicity, respondents with higher education.
• Shops, Restaurants and Pubs: 2.6% of respondents reported such discrimination. Those at higher risk were young people, minority ethnic groups, non-Irish nationals, people with disabilities, the unemployed and economically inactive.

Analysis of work-related discrimination showed that the most vulnerable groups were the unemployed and the disabled. Nationality strongly influenced the likelihood of experiencing discrimination while looking for work: 13% of non-Irish job seekers reported discrimination compared to 5% of Irish job seekers.

"It is striking that some groups experience discrimination across a wide range of settings." said Dr. Helen Russell of the ESRI. "For example, people with disabilities report higher levels of discrimination in all but one of the service settings investigated and in both of the work-related contexts. For other groups, discrimination is more context-specific, for example young people feel particularly discriminated against in shops, pubs or restaurants and accessing financial services."

According to Niall Crowley, CEO of the Equality Authority,
"The unemployed are not covered by the equality legislation but they emerge from this report as particularly vulnerable to discrimination. This suggests the need to review and broaden the grounds covered by the equality legislation in particular through including a socio-economic status ground. The report highlights that the social groups who report the highest levels of discrimination are the least likely to take action. This suggests the need for increased investment in information campaigns, advocacy and legal supports. The report also identifies the need for new practices to eliminate discrimination particularly in financial services and housing sectors as well as in workplace recruitment."

Notes for editors:
(1)The Experience of Discrimination in Ireland: Analysis of the QNHS Equality Module, by ESRI researchers Dr. Helen Russell, Dr. Frances McGinnity and Emma Quinn and by Dr. Rebecca King O'Riain who is a sociology lecturer at NUI Maynooth. The report is a joint publication of the Equality Authority and the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI).
(2) The statistical analysis is based on The Quarterly National Household: Equality Module, carried out by the Central Statistics Office. It consists of a nationally representative sample of 24,600 Irish adults interviewed in September to November 2004.
(3) The current report is the first in a series of research projects carried out as part of the Equality Authority/ESRI Research Programme on Equality and Discrimination, for details of other projects in the programme, see www.esri.ie.
(4)Members of the media are invited to attend a media briefing at the Economic and Social Research Institute on Monday 26th May at 11 a.m.

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