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Dún Laoghaire, Environment, Justice and Latest Press Releases

20 June 2005

Gender Discrimination cases on the rise 

"The Green Party has described as extremely worrying the figures contained in the Equality Tribunal’s Annual Report, published today." 

 20 June 2005   

‘Increase in number of pregnancy-related cases highlights need for tighter monitoring structures – Green Party’

The Green Party has described as extremely worrying the figures contained in the Equality Tribunal’s Annual Report, published today.  The Tribunal reported a 28 per cent increase in the number of cases it decided on in 2004.  While there have been significant increases in the number of cases of alleged discrimination on the grounds of age and race, the report noted that the majority of employment equality cases were taken on grounds of gender discrimination.    

Responding to the launch of the Annual Report today, Green Party Justice spokesperson Ciarán Cuffe TD today stated:

“The fact that gender remains the primary ground for referral of claims of discrimination in the workplace is extremely worrying.  With a vast number of claims relating to discriminatory dismissal based on gender and involving pregnancy it is starkly clear that tighter monitoring is needed in this area.  

“With the introduction and implementation of a raft of employment equality legislation over the past 30 years in Ireland, it is entirely unacceptable that such discrimination should continue to be practised. 

“It is crucial that Minister McDowell sends out a strong message that firing pregnant women is illegal, and that he reassert his Department’s commitment to the ‘elimination of discrimination and the promotion of equal opportunities’.

Mr Cuffe praised the invaluable work being carried out by the Director for Equality Investigations and her team.