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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 23 Nov 1995

Vol. 458 No. 7

Written Questions. - Refusal of Service.

Colm M. Hilliard

Ceist:

52 Mr. Hilliard asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform if the forthcoming legislation on equal status will provide for occurrences where a person who is suspected of being a drug-pusher or who is likely to cause a disturbance enters a business premises and the proprietor refuses him or her service, without giving a reason at the particular time and then subsequently at an equal status hearing voices his suspicions, thereby risking being sued for defamation of character due to lack of proof despite the fact that the alternative of serving such a person runs the risk of endangering customers and staff. [17581/95]

The proposed equal status legislation will only outlaw discrimination on specified grounds. The Bill is being drafted at present but its final terms have yet to be approved by the Government. I will give careful consideration to the issue raised by the Deputy.

When the Bill has been approved by the Government and published, there will be an opportunity to debate how relevant issues should be addressed.

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