asked the Minister for Labour the specific steps which have been taken by the Employment Equality Agency to enforce the Employment Equality Act, 1977, and the Anti-Discrimination (Pay) Act, 1974.
Written Answers. - Employment Equality Agency.
661.
These two Acts are enforced by way of complaint to the Labour Court in the first instance. In this area, the Employment Equality Agency is empowered:
(i) To prosecute an equal pay claim or an equality claim where it is not reasonable to expect the aggrieved person to do so;
(ii) To seek a High Court injunction to prevent continuing discrimination;
(iii) In certain cases to provide assistance to aggrieved persons in making equal pay or equality claims;
(iv) To conduct formal investigations for any purpose connected with the performance of its functions, and to make relevant recommendations to the Minister and others;
(v) To serve non-discrimination notices consequent on investigations and seek High Court injunctions to prevent continuing contravention of such notices.
As regards the specific steps taken by the Employment Equality Agency, I would refer the Deputy to the agency's annual reports which are available in the Oireachtas Library.