Employers have obligations under the Employment Equality Acts of 1998 and 2004. The acts prohibit discrimination against employees in all aspects of employment on nine specific grounds (age, disability, family status, gender,marital status, race, religion, sexual orientation, and membership of the travelling community). The Acts provide for two agencies to implement the Acts. Teh Equality Tribunal is a quasi-judicial body set up to investigate or mediate casres under the legislation. The Equality Authority has a mandate to promote equality of opportunity and diversity and to combat discrimination in the workplace.

In addition, the Programme for Prosperity andFairness established The National Framework Committee for Equal Opportunities at the Level of the Enterprise to provide an additional resource to employers in achieving the objectives of the legislation. The work of the committee has been continued under the new National Partnership agreement "Towards 2016". As part of the European Year of Equal Opportunity for All. The Committee, recognising the potential of Athlone as a progressive centre of employment in the heart of Ireland, approached the Athlone Chamber with an opportunity to develop a project highlighting Athlone's achievments in attracting and employing a diverse workforce and to help the community focus on creating more opportunities to successfully promote the principles of equality and diversity in the future.