Employment Rights

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 10 April 2014

Thursday, 10 April 2014

Questions (78)

Robert Dowds

Question:

78. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if, in addition to the form published by the Workplace Relations Commission for lodging a complaint with the Equality Tribunal, a specific form or a number of forms have been provided for complaints of discrimination in employment where such complaints must be made in the first instance to a body other than the Equality Tribunal in accordance with section 77(7) of the Employment Equality Act; and where those forms are published. [17021/14]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

Any person who believes that s/he has experienced discrimination which is contrary to the Employment Equality Acts may seek redress by referring a complaint to the Director of the Equality Tribunal. A complaint can be made using the Workplace Relations Complaint Form and this form is available from the Tribunal or can be downloaded from the Workplace Relations website www.workplacerelations.ie.

Section 77(7) of the Employment Equality Acts provides that any complaint of discrimination in relation to the recruitment procedures used by the Public Appointments Service, the Minister for Defence and the Garda Commissioner must first be made to the particular respondent as otherwise the Tribunal has no jurisdiction in the matter. If the complainant is not satisfied with the response or does not get a response s/he can then lodge a complaint with the Tribunal. There are no specific forms published by the Equality Tribunal for complaints which must be made at first instance to other bodies under section 77(7) of the Employment Equality Act.