Equality before the Law
Information
The Constitution (Bunreacht na hÉireann) declares that all citizens in Ireland shall be held equal before the law. This means that the State cannot unjustly, unreasonably or arbitrarily discriminate between citizens. You cannot be treated as inferior or superior to any other person in society simply because of your human attributes or your ethnic, racial, social or religious background.
However, when the state is making laws, it may consider differences of capacity and of social function between individuals in society.
Your right to Equality before the Law is set down under Article 40 of the Constitution. You can view the full text of the (pdf)Irish Constitution here.
Language
Related Documents
- Constitution
Bunreacht na hEireann (meaning 'Basic Law of Ireland') is the Irish Constitution. It is the fundamental legal document that sets out how Ireland should be governed and the rights of Irish citizens. - Religious Liberty
The right to religious liberty, as guaranteed by the Irish Constitution. - Rights of the family
Families in Ireland have certain rights and privileges that are set down by Bunreacht na hÉireann (the Irish Constitution). Find out more.
Contact Us
If you have a question relating to this topic you can contact the Citizens Information Phone Service on 0761 07 4000 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 9pm) or you can visit your local Citizens Information Centre.