The Equality Tribunal is the impartial forum to hear or mediate complaints of alleged discrimination under equality legislation. It is independent and quasi-judicial and its decisions and mediated settlements are legally binding.
The equality legislation prohibits discrimination on 9 grounds - gender, civil status, family status, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, race and membership of the Traveller community.
Our Mission
To contribute to a fairer society through providing a fair, accessible and impartial forum to remedy unlawful discrimination.
Our Mandate
The Employment Equality Act 1998, which established the Equality Tribunal, provides a statutory framework whereby we mediate and/or investigate claims of unlawful discrimination in accordance with the provisions of the Act. Various legislative changes have occurred since our establishment and we now have a unique responsibility for mediating and investigating complaints of unlawful discrimination under the following legislation:
- Employment Equality Acts 1998 - 2011
- Equal Status Acts 2000 -2011
- Pensions Acts 1990-2009.
Our jurisdiction is wide ranging and includes complaints in relation to employment, occupational benefits e.g. pensions, and equal status, i.e. access to goods and provision of services, with two exceptions:
- Claims in relation to registered clubs and licensed premises are dealt with by the District Court under the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2003;
- Complainants in relation to employment discrimination on the gender ground have an option of seeking redress for unlawful discrimination from the Circuit Court.
Our core work focuses on impartial resolution of discrimination disputes on the following grounds:
· gender
· civil status
· family status
· sexual orientation
· religion
· age
· disability
· race (including colour, nationality or national or ethnic origin)
· membership of the Traveller community
and in the following areas
· all aspects of employment including recruitment and retirement benefits
· access to accommodation and disposal of property
· access to goods
· provision of services, and certain aspects of education