Groups campaigning against changes to the Equal Status Act have been protesting outside the Department of Justice today.
The Coalition for Equality, an alliance of organisations representing groups protected by the Equal Status Act and the trade union movement, wants the Minister for Justice to change his plans to regulate alcohol sales.
Its objection centres on plans to transfer the handling of discrimination cases involving licensed premises away from the Equality Tribunal to the District Courts.
The group claims the changes will reduce the capacity of the Equality Authority to carry out its functions across the range of discrimination areas, including discrimination in employment.
"These proposals to undermine equality are particularly ironic coming as they do in a week that marks International Refugee Day, the tenth anniversary of the decriminalisation of homosexuality and the beginning of the Special Olympics," the group said in a statement.
"While on one hand celebrating the rights of these groups, the Government is also reducing their protection from discrimination," the coalition said.
Speakers at the protest this morning included Ms Inez McCormack of ICTU, Mr Martin Collins of Pavee Point, Mr Peter Paul Bloom of the Forum of People with Disabilities and Mr Nassar Bidy of the African Refugee Network.