Ireland: Equal opportunities

Original and updating author: Mark Carley

Summary

• Discrimination in employment is prohibited on grounds of gender, civil status, family status, age, disability, sexual orientation, religious belief, race and membership of the Traveller community. (See General)
• There are various legal rules specific to discrimination on each of the prohibited grounds. (See Specific provisions)
• Differences in treatment on the prohibited grounds are permitted in certain circumstances. (See Exemptions)
• Sexual harassment and harassment are prohibited in the workplace or in the course of employment and are treated as discrimination by the employer. (See Harassment and sexual harassment)
• Employees are protected against victimisation. (See Victimisation)
• Employers may take positive action to ensure full equality in practice between employees. (See Positive action)
• The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission may invite employers to conduct equality reviews and implement equality action plans. (See Equality reviews and action plans)
• Most claims under the employment equality legislation are dealt with, in the first instance, by the Workplace Relations Commission, whose determinations are legally binding. (See Remedies and penalties)
• There are restrictions on the ability of an employer to enter into a non-disclosure agreement with an employee who alleges that they have been subjected to discrimination, victimisation, harassment or sexual harassment by the employer. (See Non-disclosure agreements)