An event took place on Monday the 4th of November 2024 at Exchange House Ireland to celebrate the launch of a new film by ATD Ireland called “Community Conversations: Time for the recognition of socio-economic status in our equality law”. The conversations were filmed by Steven Daly and edited by Catriona Loughlin. Amongst the people discussing these issues were Jimmy and Christina ATD Ireland Community Activists; Paul Ginnell EAPN Ireland; Michal Wolniak, Elizabeth Ward and John Paul Collins, Exchange House Ireland; Dr Joe Whelan, Trinity College Dublin; Bríd O Brien, INOU; Nessan Vaughan, SVP Ireland; Melissa Lynch, Dublin City University; and Dr Austin O’Carroll.
The film focuses on the importance of adding the new 10th ground to the equality legislation to protect people from socio-economic based discrimination. It comes from the perspective of those with lived experiences of discrimination, academics and professionals working in the community and volunteer sector. The film aims to function as a call to action in order to finally get this piece of legislation over the line.
A group discussion took place following the film where attendees reflected on the film and discussed the following topics:
- the parallels between discrimination faced by the Traveller community and that experienced by people facing socio-economic discrimination;
- ways to foster connections and build bridges across communities, emphasising the need for structural changes - such as creating more opportunities for Travellers to enter professions like social work; and
- the media’s role in exacerbating socio-economic discrimination and how it shapes public perceptions and attitudes
The full film, and individual shorts are available on #addthe10th resource page here .
ATD Ireland and other members of the Add the 10th Alliance asked political parties to support the inclusion of the ground of socio-economic status in Ireland’s Equality Legislation. It would be vital that a clear and strong commitment is made in the forthcoming Programme for Government. The members of the Add the 10th Alliance include AHEAD, ATD Ireland, CAN, Community Law and Mediation, EAPN, FLAC, ILMI, and the INOU. The INOU’s most recent article on this issue was in Issue 60 and focused on Promoting Socio-Economic Equality in Employment .