News 2009-10
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Civil Partnership Bill passed by Dáil
02 July 2010
The Dáil last night completed its work on the Civil Partnership Bill, which is expected to be signed into law in the autumn. Same-sex couples will now be able to avail of legally binding civil partnerships from the beginning of next year.
Under the Civil Partnership Bill same-sex couples who register their civil partnership will have many of the same entitlements and will be subject to many of the same legally enforceable duties and obligations as parties to a civil marriage. These include protections and obligations across areas such as protection of the couple's shared home, domestic violence, residential tenancies, succession, refugee law, pensions, taxation, social welfare and immigration. The Bill does not deal with the issue of support and recognition of the many children being parented by same-sex couples.
Full news item in the Irish Times
GLEN (Gay and Lesbian Equality Network)
Equality Monitoring Report 2009-2010 now available
The Annual Equality Monitoring Report 2009-2010 is submitted to the Equality Committee, Board and Council. This report is prepared by the Equality Officer and the Monitoring Advisory Group and contains baseline statistics on staff and students in relation to different equality grounds.
The report is available to download from the reports section and can be requested in alternative formats.
Right Let's Speak Up for Ourselves! Report Launched
June 2010
An accessible report was launched on 1st June 2010 in the School of Nursing and Midwifery, recounting participants’ stories of a human rights day held in Trinity College Dublin in September 2009. These stories were prepared and presented by people with intellectual disabilities and for many of the presenters this was their first opportunity to engage in such an activity. The process for making the report was an inclusive one and the presenters chose their own media for telling their stories. The report, which was supported by a grant from the TCD Equality Fund, was launched in both on-line and printed format and is available for download on www.idrights.ie.
Contact for further information:
Dr. Fintan Sheerin, Lecturer in Intellectual Disabilities, School of Nursing & Midwifery sheerinf@tcd.ie
02 Ability Awards - Trinity Selected as Ability Company
12 May 2010
Trinity has been selected as an Ability Company in all six categories of the 02 Ability Awards 2010: Leadership, Customer Service, Environmental Accessibility, Learning Development and Progression, Retention and Well Being.
Being selected as an Ability Company is an achievement that highlights College's commitment to increasing accessibility and the value it places on the contribution made by all members of the College community. 
If you would like to find out more about Trinity's participation in the Ability Awards you can see the RTE documentary programme featuring Trinity and other finalists on RTE player.
The 02 Ability Awards 2010 took place on 12 May in the Royal Hospital Kilmainham.
The 02 Ability Awards recognise best practice in the inclusion of people with disabilities, both as customers and as employees. The Awards are a Kanchi initiative, to find out more about the Awards and Kanchi please visit http://theabilityawards.com/
02 Awards Provost's reception see Gallery
IUA Equality Network Report: Exploring the Function of Staff Networks in Supporting Equality Outcomes in the University Sector
November 2009
The IUA Equality Network has published the report prepared by Dr Jane Pillinger outlining the main learning from a series of workshops that took place in 2009 exploring the function of staff networks in supporting LGBT staff and other equality groups. This project was supported by the DG for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities of the European Commission (PROGRESS programme).
Download report (pdf)
Download report (text version) (other formats available on request)
Further information on the IUA Equality Network
For further information on staff networks currently in College please contact the Equality Officer equality@tcd.ie
Equality Tribunal Celebrating 10 Years - Case Law
November 2009
The Equality Tribunal has launched a case-law database celebrating its first ten years in operation (1999-2009). The database is available in CD format or searchable on the Equality Tribunal website.
Equality Authority Annual Report 2008
24 September 2009
The Equality Authority has launched its Annual Report 2008; now available to download on the Equality Authority's website www.equality.ie. 
The Equality Authority reported over 10,000 queries on equality and familiy leave legislation and dealt with 736 casefiles. The largest number of case files under employment equality legislation came under the age ground, and the largest number of Equal Status cases came under the disability ground.
Further information
'A Diverse Society: Tackling Discrimination across Europe' film
EU For Diversity. Against Discrimination campaign
The film explores equality and diversity under EU law and tells the stories of several people from across Europe who have experienced discrimination because of their age, racial or ethnic origin, religion or sexual orientation.
You can now watch the film online on the 'For Diversity.Against Discrimination' campaign website http://www.stop-discrimination.info/5685.0.html
Staff Disability Census 2008
August 2009
The Equality Officer has communicated to staff the results of the Staff Census 2008.
The staff census was carried out in order to report on the number of staff with disabilities employed in 2008 in compliance with the Disability Act 2005. Under the Act, public service bodies have a duty to promote and support the employment of people with disabilities, and to ensure that at least 3% of their employees are people with disabilities.
Staff Census 2008 Report
More about the Staff Census
