THE Council of State meets today to consider the constitutionality of the Equal Status Bill and advise the President, Mrs Robinson, on whether to refer the Bill, or a part of it, to the Supreme Court to test its constitutionality.
For the second time in five weeks, Mrs Robinson has convened a meeting of the 22 member council to consider legislation passed by the Oireachtas. In April after a council meeting she referred the Employment Equality Bill to the Supreme Court. The hearing began last week and will resume today.
The Equal Status Bill provides for protection against discrimination for travellers, certain religious groups, homosexuals and people with some disabilities among others.
Under the Bill, discrimination claims could be referred to a director of inequality investigations, an independent official appointed by the Department of Equality and Law Reform. The director could investigate, mediate or make decisions on claims and make awards of up to £5,000.
When the Equal Status Bill was debated in the Dail and the Seanad, there were claims that the new legislation could impinge on the rights of traders and publicans and clubs managers, in particular, to refuse admission to troublemakers or antisocial elements.