Legal Assistance
The Commission through its legal functions can also provide practical assistance, including under specific circumstances, legal representation, to persons in vindicating their rights under human rights and anti-discrimination legislation, in particular under the Employment Equality Acts 1998–2015, the Equal Status Acts 2000–2015, the European Convention on Human Rights Acts 2003 and 2014, and more generally in relation to the protection and promotion of human rights and equality.
Recent cases
State Withdraws High Court Appeals Challenging the Labour Court’s Determinations that An Garda Síochána Discriminated Against Older Recruits
25 Jan 2024
The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (the ‘Commission’) has welcomed the withdrawal of the appeals filed by the State the against the 2023 Labour Court decisions which determined that An Garda Siochána discriminated against Ronald Boyle and Brian Fitzpatrick on the grounds of age. The Labour Court had ruled that both men were discriminated...
Commission Provides Legal Assistance in Equality Status Acts Case
22 Sep 2023
“The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (“the Commission”) has provided legal assistance to a person involved in a complaint under the Equal Status Acts regarding the provision of a service by a public body. The person alleged that the criteria and the application process for the service was discriminatory on the grounds of disability....
Commission Provides Legal Assistance in HAP Discrimination Complaint
14 Aug 2023
The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (the “Commission”) has provided legal representation to a person involved in a case before the Workplace Relations Commission under the Equal Status Acts regarding a complaint of discrimination on the housing assistance ground. The discrimination related to a considerable delay by a management company in submitting the required...
Commission Legally Assists Woman in Disability Rights Claim
25 Jul 2023
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...
Equal Pay Claim Highlights Importance of Women Being Aware of their Rights
12 Jul 2023
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...
Labour Court Determines An Garda Síochána Discriminated Against Older Recruits
27 Jan 2023
Commission Provided Legal Representation to Two Men in Long-Running Legal Battle to Successfully Challenge Age Discrimination The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (the ‘Commission’) has welcomed important determinations issued by the Labour Court this week confirming that regulations providing for a maximum age of 35 for recruitment to An Garda Síochána are discriminatory...
Commission Welcomes Favourable Outcome in Immigration Challenge
13 Jan 2023
The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (‘the Commission’) recently provided legal assistance to a US national and disability advocate, who was granted leave last October by the High Court to challenge an immigration decision by way of judicial review. The applicant sought to challenge the decision of the Minister for Justice to refuse an...
Refugee Secures Right to Temporary Directive Following IHREC Intervention
29 Nov 2022
The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (‘the Commission’) recently gave legal assistance to a Ukrainian national and member of the Roma community in relation to his application for Temporary Protection in Ireland under section 60 of the International Protection Act 2015. The man’s application was initially refused on arrival in Ireland in November 2022 at...
Garda Commissioner and Minister Appeal WRC Ruling Against Gardaí in Age Discrimination Case
27 Jun 2022
Garda Commissioner and Minister Appeal WRC Ruling Against Gardaí in Age Discrimination Case The Minister for Justice and Equality and the Commissioner of An Garda Síochána are appealing a 2020 ruling by the Workplace Relations Commission (“WRC”) that two men, Ronald Boyle and Brian Fitzpatrick, were discriminated against by An Garda Síochána when rejected for...
Commission Granted Role in Family Rights Challenge in Supreme Court
15 Jun 2022
Commission to Appear as Amicus Curiae in Case Where Minister Refused to Vary Canadian Woman’s Visa 15 June 2022 – The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (‘the Commission’) has been granted liberty by the Supreme Court to exercise its amicus curiae (‘friend of the court’) function in an important case focused on private and...
Prison Service Withdraws Appeal on Significant Disability Rights Case
25 Oct 2021
The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (the “Commission”) has welcomed the decision this week of the Irish Prison Service (IPS) to withdraw their appeal of a significant High Court judgment, which found that the IPS must provide reasonable accommodation to prison officers with disabilities. In the case Cunningham v Irish Prison Service, the Commission...
EU Court of Justice Issues Landmark Equality Law Ruling: December 2018
EU Court of Justice Hears Case Arising from Alleged Age Discrimination in An Garda Síochána: June 2018
EU Court of Justice Hears Case Arising from Alleged Age Discrimination in An Garda Síochána
County Council Criterion for Traveller Family Access to Services Discriminatory: May 2018
County Council Criterion for Traveller Family Access to Services Discriminatory
Compensation Granted in Housing Assistance Discrimination Case: December 2017
Compensation Granted in Housing Assistance Discrimination Case
Service in a licensed premises: December 2017
Human rights of children in the provision of housing: September 2017
Retirement age and family discrimination: August 2017
Retirement Age and Family Discrimination Case Resolved Ahead of Hearing
Kim Cahill v. Minister for Education and Science: May 2017
Supreme Court clarifies duties towards students in disability discrimination case