Ireland needs to improve its equality protections under the Belfast Agreement, including in the treatment of gay couples and transsexual people, according to the Equality Authority.
Its chief executive, Niall Crowley, was speaking at the launch of a study of equality legislation North and South in the light of the agreement, carried out by Colm Ó Cinnéide of University College London. The study was jointly commissioned by the Equality Authority and the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland.
Mr Crowley said that equality is identified as a core theme throughout the agreement, and it was instrumental in bringing about key pieces of equality legislation, the Employment Equality Act of 1998, the setting up of the Equality Authority in 1999 and the Equal Status Act of 2000.
It sets the objective of "equivalence" in equality protections North and South, and therefore should be a key driver of further developments in this area.
Yet, he added, "to date, this is an aspect of the agreement that has been given very limited attention".
The Ó Cinnéide report establishes three areas where legislation and practice in Northern Ireland are in advance of those in the Republic.
These relate to the absence of a positive duty on public authorities in the South to promote equality in the performance of their functions; limitations in equality legislation; and less protection for gay, lesbian and transsexual people.
Mr Crowley said that bringing Irish legislation and practice up to Northern Ireland standards could have an impact on policing and immigration practices, fair employment practices - which in Northern Ireland outlaws discrimination on the grounds of political opinion - and the levels of compensation that could be awarded for discrimination. There is no limit in Northern Ireland.