Tribunal reports 20% increase in employment equality cases
The Equality Tribunal has reported a 20% increase in the number of cases referred to it under employment equality legislation last year.
The tribunal said 297 employment equality cases were referred to it during 2004, compared to 244 in 2003.
It said gender was still the main grounds for discrimination claims, but the number of age-related complaints was up 53% and the number of racial discrimination cases was up 46%.
The tribunal said it issued rulings in 77 cases and awarded almost €340,000 in compensation.
In relation to the Equal Status Act, meanwhile, the body said it received 185 referrals in 2004, down from 363 in 2003, mainly due to the fact that jurisdiction for claims involving pubs had been switched to the District Courts.
It said this had helped conceal and underlying increase in cases that are not related to licensed premises.
