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Equality Tribunal Cases

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 March 2013

Wednesday, 6 March 2013

Questions (24)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Question:

24. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he plans to establish a non-judicial independent authority competent to deal with cases of discrimination in the provision of goods and services. [11553/13]

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Written answers

At present, the Equality Tribunal is the main forum to hear or mediate complaints of alleged discrimination in access to goods and services, under the Equal Status Acts 2000 to 2012. It is impartial, independent and quasi-judicial and its decisions and mediated settlements are legally binding. Reform of the workplace relations institutions will involve the Equality Tribunal in a merger with the Labour Relations Commission, Employment Appeals Tribunal (EAT) (first instance functions) and National Employment Rights Authority to form a single agency for dealing with first instance complaints. The drafting of legislation to give effect to this merger and related matters are, as the Deputy will be aware, a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation.

In regard to the pursuit of complaints under the Equal Status Acts, I refer the Deputy to my reply below to Parliamentary Question No. 54483 of 11 December 2012. The position is unchanged since then.

"I can provide absolute assurance to persons with potential discrimination claims under employment equality legislation and equal status legislation that they will, on the merger of the Equality Tribunal into the new Workplace Relations Service, continue to be able to pursue formal complaints before the new body and that these complaints will be dealt with as effectively as by the Equality Tribunal. "

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