Vol. 519 No. 5
275 Mr. Coveney asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to age or race discrimination in the recruitment of workers in Ireland; and if so, the action being taken to ensure that the problem is tackled. [14556/00]
The Employment Equality Act, 1998, outlaws discrimination in relation to employment, including recruitment to employment, on nine grounds, including age and race. The Act, which came into operation on 18 October 1999, provides for the establishment of an equality infrastructure, viz. the Equality Authority and the Office of Director of Equality Investigations.
The Equality Authority works to eliminate discrimination in relation to employment on the nine grounds, including age and race, covered by the Employment Equality Act, 1998, and to promote equality of opportunity. The authority provides advice, support and free legal assistance, where appropriate, in cases of alleged discrimination under the 1998 Act. Since October 1999, approximately 4,000 queries have been dealt with by the authority. These have included queries about discrimination on grounds of age and race. It is the policy of the Equality Authority, where possible, to endeavour to resolve complaints as soon as they are received, if the parties are amenable to such a resolution.
Along with the advice and support provided by the Equality Authority, an information campaign on the implications of the new equality legislation is ongoing. The staff of the authority regularly address a variety of groups, including voluntary organisations, employers representative bodies, trade unions and bodies established to combat discrimination. The services of the authority are always available to such groups on request.
The Office of Director of Equality Investigations provides the main locus for redress of first instance for equality cases. The remit of both bodies will be broadened beyond the employment equality area once the Equal Status Act, 2000, comes into operation.
