This council is aware of the harmful impact that misinformation has on marginalised communities, including but not limited to those protected under the Equal Status Acts, namely on the grounds of gender, marital status, family status, age, disability, sexual orientation, race, religion and membership of the Traveller community.

In making this commitment, this council affirms its obligation as a Local Authority, as per Section 42 of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014, to have regard to the need to:

a) eliminate discrimination, 

b) promote equality of opportunity and treatment of its staff and the persons to whom it provides services, and 

c) protect the human rights of its members, staff and the persons to whom it provides services. 

That this Council commits to using factual and accurate information, based on credible sources, in this Council’s discussion and debates.

 This Council is aware of the harmful impact that misinformation has on marginalised communities, including but not limited to those protected under the Equal Status Acts, namely on the grounds of gender, marital status, family status, age, disability, sexual orientation, race, religion and membership of the Traveller community.

 In making this commitment, this Council affirms its obligation as a Local Authority, as per Section 42 of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014, to have regard to the need to:

a) eliminate discrimination,

b) promote equality of opportunity and treatment of its staff and the persons to whom it provides services, and

c) protect the human rights of its members, staff and the persons to whom it provides services.

The Meetings Administrator read the following reply:

Roscommon County Council is committed to meet our obligations under the Equal Status Acts 2000-2018 and Section 42 of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Act 2014 and is committed to be proactive in the promotion of equality and to work towards the prevention of discrimination.  The Equal Status Acts 2000-2018 prohibit discrimination in the provision of goods and services, accommodation and education. They cover the nine grounds of gender, marital status, family status, age, disability, sexual orientation, race, religion, and membership of the Traveller community.

The Public Sector Equality and Human Rights Duty is a statutory obligation on public bodies to have regard to the need to:

·         Eliminate discrimination;

·         Promote equality of opportunity and treatment of its staff and the persons to whom it provides services; and

·         Protect the human rights of its members, staff, and the persons to whom it provides services.

Roscommon County Council is committed to delivering a quality service to all of our customers and Roscommon County Council ensures that no-one is discriminated against because of their gender, marital status, family status, sexual orientation, religious belief, age, disability, race and membership of the Traveller Community. Roscommon County Council will accommodate diversity and work to make our services more accessible for people experiencing poverty and social exclusion.

Roscommon County Council is committed to using factual and accurate information based on credible sources in Council discussions and debates. This commitment is reinforced in the codes of conduct for councillors and for employees of local authorities. The code of conduct for employees sets out principles of behaviour that an employee of a local authority must adhere to in the performance of their duties. The code of conduct for councillors sets out principles of behaviour that an elected member of a local authority must adhere to in the performance of their duties.

Proposing the motion, Cllr. Keogh said that he was asked to highlight this issue. He added that an Garda Siochana published figures which showed a 12% increase in the number of reported hate crimes and hate related incidents. He added sexual orientation is the most commonly recorded forms of targeting, and LGBTQ+ community is one of the most consistent victims.

Members supported the motion.

On the PROPOSAL of Cllr. Keogh

SECONDED by Cllr. Crosby

It was AGREED that the Council affirms its obligation as a Local Authority.