1.
Who experiences discrimination
in Ireland?
Frances McGinnity, Raffaele Grotti,
Oona Kenny and Helen Russell

2.
What this report does..
 Measures the experience of discrimination among the adult
population in Ireland
 Uses a large representative sample CSO Quarterly National
Household Survey, Equality Module, conducted in 2014.
 Coverage: Full adult population, a wide range of
situations/settings
 Survey repeats two earlier surveys by the CSO in 2004 &
2010, allowing us compare some results

3.
Measuring Discrimination
 Self-reports of discrimination
 Linked to specific social contexts/domains of
experience
 Time-delimited – within last two years
 Respondent given definition of discrimination
based on nine grounds in the legislation (at
the time of the survey)

4.
Definition of Discrimination
The focus of this section of the questionnaire is to collect data on
discrimination as defined in Irish law. Under Irish law,
discrimination takes place when one person or a group of persons
is treated less favourably than others because of their gender,
marital status, family status, age, disability, ‘race’(skin colour or
ethnic group), sexual orientation, religious belief, and/or
membership of the Traveller Community.
When the term discrimination is used in this questionnaire it refers
to this legal definition only.
If you believe you were treated less favourably than someone else
but it was for another reason (e.g. your qualifications, being over
an income limit or because you are further back in a queue for
something), this is not considered discrimination under Irish law.

5.
Domains of Discrimination
In the past two years, have you personally felt
discriminated against…
1. in the workplace?
2. while looking for work?
3. in relation to education?
4. in respect of accessing health services?
5. in respect of using transport services?
6. in respect of accessing other public services?
7. in shops, pubs, or restaurants?
8. using services of banks, insurance companies,
financial institutions?
9. in respect of obtaining housing/accommodation?

6.
Figure 1: Rates of Reported
Discrimination, 2014
11.8%
5.3%
7.4%
3.4%
4.7%
0%
2%
4%
6%
8%
10%
12%
14%
Any discrimination In the workplace Looking for work Public service Private services

7.
Key Findings 1 Groups with higher risk
CONTROLLING FOR OTHER FACTORS.....
 Ethnicity Those of Black ethnicity - 3 times more likely to exp
discrimination in the workplace and in public services; 4 times
more likely in private services, compared to White Irish.
White non-Irish do not differ from White Irish in any domain.
 Disability
 Those with a disability around twice as likely to experience
discrimination in all domains as those without a disability
 Irish Travellers – 10 times more likely to exp discrimination
in seeking work, over 22 times more likely to experience
discrimination in private services

8.
Key Findings 2 Groups with higher risk
CONTROLLING FOR OTHER FACTORS.....
 Age – 45-64 age group more likely to report discrimination
seeking work than younger adults BUT in private services
older adults (esp 65) less likely to experience discrimination.
 Women - twice as likely to experience discrimination in
the workplace than men, but no gender difference elsewhere
 Family status - Never-married lone parents somewhat
more likely to experience discrimination in services than
single childless adults

9.
Figure 2 Change over Time in
Discrimination 2004-2014
0%
2%
4%
6%
8%
10%
12%
14%
Any In workplace Looking for
work
Public service Private service
2004
2010
2014

10.
Change over time 2004 - 2014
 Rise in discrimination seeking work from around
5.8% in 2004/2010 to 7.4% in 2014
 Fall in private services, from 6.8% in 2004 to 4.7% in
2014, biggest fall in finance, no fall in housing
 Gap between Black and White Irish respondents in
the workplace has risen since 2004; in seeking work
– gap between white non-Irish/white Irish fell
 In the workplace gap between those with and
without a disability narrowed between 2004-2010
and then grew again between 2010-2014
 No info on Irish Travellers in earlier surveys.

11.
 Thanks for listening!
 To download the report:
www.esri.ie