The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (“the Commission”) has provided legal assistance to a disabled woman in a discrimination claim under the Equal Status Acts. The woman alleged that a State body had failed to provide her with transport that would have enabled her to avail of its services on an equal footing with…
The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (‘the Commission’) has today published a second set of recommendations to Government as part of ongoing engagement with the Review of the Equality Acts, including the Equal Status Acts 2000-2018 and the Employment Equality Acts 1998-2015. As Ireland’s national equality body, the Commission is recommending that equality legislation be…
The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (“the Commission”) has provided legal assistance to a person involved in a complaint in the Workplace Relations Commission under the Employment Equality Act regarding indirect discrimination. The discrimination related to specific eligibility criteria that was required to be satisfied in order for the applicant to be considered for…
The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (‘the Commission’) welcomes an important decision by the Workplace Relations Commission (‘WRC’) in relation to a third level educational institute’s failure to provide equal access to a course. The Commission provided legal representation in the case. The complainant, Sofiya Kalinova, who is deaf, contacted Griffith College about enrolling…
Commission welcomes Criminal Justice (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking) Bill 2023 The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission has today welcomed the publication of the Criminal Justice (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking) Bill 2023, that will, for the first time, put into law an identification and support process for victims of trafficking and will strengthen…
The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (“the Commission”) has today raised concern to the Council of Europe, challenging State provision of Traveller accommodation, and highlighting the State’s obligations under Article 16 of the Revised European Social Charter. Traveller accommodation planning and provision also remains incoherent and inadequate, in the absence of an independent authority…
The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission has called for refuge accommodation commitments outlined in the Third National Strategy on Domestic Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (DSGBV) to be revised, saying this should be done with a view to expanding capacity in order to comply with Council of Europe standards on ensuring protection of survivors and…
The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (“the Commission”) has provided legal assistance to a group of women involved in an equal pay claim under the Employment Equality Acts. The women alleged that their employer, a hospital contractor, engaged in unequal practices as regards the women’s remuneration, and sought a resolution of the situation through…
The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (‘the Commission’) has today welcomed the Government’s recommendation of six new Commission Members to be proposed for appointment to serve on the Commission. The six new Commission Members proposed are: Andrew Forde, Head of Rural Regeneration at Department of Rural & Community Development / PhD Int. Human Rights…
While common EU membership had facilitated broad alignment of equality and human rights law in Ireland and Northern Ireland, there is now a real risk of increasing divergence in protections across the island of Ireland post Brexit – unless action is taken. This is the warning to members of the Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation…