Press Releases

The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (“the Commission”) has provided legal assistance to a man in a discrimination claim under the Employment Equality Acts. The man commenced employment with the respondent employer over a decade ago and on reaching the age of 66 was made to retire. He had alleged that his contract of…

Significant public investment had protective and stabilising role, study finds, but inequality persists A new study from the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (‘the Commission’) and the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), published today, explores the equality impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the labour market, comparing the situation pre- and post-pandemic. Findings…

Student with visual impairment secures greater digitisation of State examinations A successful legal challenge that was assisted by the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (‘the Commission’) has resulted in a significant expansion of the examinations scheme, the Commission today announced. This includes an expansion of accommodations available for Leaving Certificate as well as the…

The European Committee of Social Rights raises ongoing concern with the State on Traveller accommodation, social housing, and collective bargaining rights The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (“the Commission”) today welcomed the publication of the European Committee of Social Rights’ (“the ECSR”) ‘Findings of 2023’. The report assessed Ireland’s follow-up actions in response to…

Scheme must include everyone who spent time in Mother and Baby Institutions As the payment scheme for survivors of the mother and baby institutions opens today (see the Scheme’s homepage here), the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission welcomed the Scheme, but reiterated a number of recommendations that would improve the compliance of the Act…

The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (“the Commission”) has provided legal assistance to a woman who referred a complaint of victimisation against a former employer to the Workplace Relations Commission (“WRC”). The woman alleged that, following a complaint of sexual harassment she made against the director of her former employer, the institution stopped engaging…

€350,000 National Programme Calls for Projects to Advance Economic Equality, Promote Climate Justice, Environmental Justice, and a Just Transition, and Promote Awareness of Rights and Access to Justice The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission is inviting civil society organisations and groups across Ireland working on human rights and equality issues to apply for support for projects…

On her last day in the role, the Commission would like to sincerely thank Sinéad Gibney for her dedication during four years as Chief Commissioner, and her contribution to the work of IHREC. Recruitment for a new Chief Commissioner will follow in due course, in line with international standards for an open and transparent selection…

The Commission welcomes Gymnastics Ireland agreement to undertake Equality Review The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (the ‘Commission’) announced today that it has used its legal powers, under Section 32(1)(a) of the 2014 IHREC Act, to invite Gymnastics Ireland to carry out an equality review of its services, and that Gymnastics Ireland has accepted…