Congress engagement with Minister Bruton's "Blueprint to deliver a world class workplace relations service included a session with the implementation team in DJEI where we put forward a series of equality related concerns and issues. Among the issues raised were:
- the EU anti-discrimination Directives guarantee easy access to redress. The Equality Tribunal structure is compatible with the Directives in that it is a free service. Congress recommends strongly that this principle of free access to justice be maintained.
- Equal Status cases: A significant gap in the Blueprint is the absence of any mention of what is proposed regarding the equal status function of the Equality Tribunal. Congress is of the view that all equality claims both employment Equality and Equal Status should be dealt with through this new forum.
- Possible breach of EU anti-discrimination Directives and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights:There appears to be no guarantee of an independent hearing of a claim at the first tier.
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