1.— This Act may be cited as the Equal Status Act, 2000.

2.—(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires—

F1[‘Act of 2015’ means the Workplace Relations Act 2015;

‘adjudication officer’ has the same meaning as it has in the Act of 2015;]

“Authority” means the Equality Authority;

F2[‘civil status’ means being single, married, separated, divorced, widowed, in a civil partnership within the meaning of the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010 or being a former civil partner in a civil partnership that has ended by death or been dissolved; ]

F3[…]

“disability” means—

(a) the total or partial absence of a person’s bodily or mental functions, including the absence of a part of a person’s body,

(b) the presence in the body of organisms causing, or likely to cause, chronic disease or illness,

(c) the malfunction, malformation or disfigurement of a part of a person’s body,

(d) a condition or malfunction which results in a person learning differently from a person without the condition or malfunction, or

(e) a condition, disease or illness which affects a person’s thought processes, perception of reality, emotions or judgement or which results in disturbed behaviour;

“discriminate” means to discriminate within the meaning of section 3(1) or 4(1);

F4[‘discriminatory grounds’ has the meaning given by subsections (2) and (3B) of section 3;]

“family status” means being pregnant or having responsibility—

(a) as a parent or as a person in loco parentis in relation to a person who has not attained the age of 18 years, or

(b) as a parent or the resident primary carer in relation to a person of or over that age with a disability which is of such a nature as to give rise to the need for care or support on a continuing, regular or frequent basis,

and, for the purposes of paragraph (b), a primary carer is a resident primary carer in relation to a person with a disability if the primary carer resides with the person with the disability;

F5[‘Gender Goods and Services Directive’ means Council Directive 2004/113/EC of 13 December 2004¹ implementing the principle of equal treatment between men and women in the access to and supply of goods and services ]

“goods” means any articles of movable property;

F1[‘Labour Court’ means the body established by the Industrial Relations Act 1946;]

F6[…]

F1[‘mediation officer’ has the same meaning as it has in the Act of 2015;]

“the Minister” means the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform;

“near relative” means a spouse F2[or civil partner within the meaning of the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010], lineal descendant, ancestor, brother or sister;

“person”, as that term is used in or in relation to any provision of this Act that prohibits that person from discriminating or from committing any other act or that requires a person to comply with a provision of this Act or regulations made under it, includes an organisation, public body or other entity;

“premises” includes any immovable property;

F7[‘proceedings’ means—

(a) proceedings before the person, body or court dealing with a request or reference under this Act by or on behalf of a person, and

(b) any subsequent proceedings, including proceedings on appeal, arising from the request or reference,

but does not include proceedings for an offence under this Act;]

“prohibited conduct” means discrimination against, or sexual harassment or harassment of, or permitting the sexual harassment or harassment of, a person in contravention of this Act;

F8[‘provision’ means a term in a contract or a requirement, criterion, practice, regime, policy or condition affecting a person;]

“refusal” includes a deliberate omission;

“religious belief” includes religious background or outlook;

“service” means a service or facility of any nature which is available to the public generally or a section of the public, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, includes—

(a) access to and the use of any place,

(b) facilities for—

(i) banking, insurance, grants, loans, credit or financing,

(ii) entertainment, recreation or refreshment,

(iii) cultural activities, or

(iv) transport or travel,

(c) a service or facility provided by a club (whether or not it is a club holding a certificate of registration under the Registration of Clubs Acts, 1904 to 1999) which is available to the public generally or a section of the public, whether on payment or without payment, and

(d) a professional or trade service,

but does not include pension rights (within the meaning of the Employment Equality Act, 1998) or a service or facility in relation to which that Act applies;

“sexual orientation” means heterosexual, homosexual or bisexual orientation;

“Traveller community” means the community of people who are commonly called Travellers and who are identified (both by themselves and others) as people with a shared history, culture and traditions including, historically, a nomadic way of life on the island of Ireland.

(2) In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears—

(a) a reference to a section or Part is to a section or Part of this Act,

(b) a reference to a subsection, paragraph or other subdivision is to the subsection, paragraph or subdivision of the provision in which the reference occurs, and

(c) a reference to an enactment is to that enactment as amended by or under any other enactment, including this Act.

F8[(3) In any proceedings a respondent is presumed, unless the contrary is shown, to fail to do something when—

 (a) the respondent does an act inconsistent with doing it, or

 (b) the period expires during which the respondent might reasonably have been expected to do it.]

3.—F9[(1) For the purposes of this Act discrimination shall be taken to occur—

(a) where a person is treated less favourably than another person is, has been or would be treated in a comparable situation F10[on any of the grounds specified in subsection (2) or, if appropriate, subsection (3B),] (in this Act referred to as the ‘discriminatory grounds’) which—

(i) exists,

(ii) existed but no longer exists,

(iii) may exist in the future, or

(iv) is imputed to the person concerned,

(b) where a person who is associated with another person—

(i) is treated, by virtue of that association, less favourably than a person who is not so associated is, has been or would be treated in a comparable situation, and

(ii) similar treatment of that other person on any of the discriminatory grounds would, by virtue of paragraph (a), constitute discrimination,

or

(c) where an apparently neutral provision F10[would put a person] referred to in any paragraph of section 3(2) at a particular disadvantage compared with other persons, unless the provision is objectively justified by a legitimate aim and the means of achieving that aim are appropriate and necessary.]

(2) As between any two persons, the discriminatory grounds (and the descriptions of those grounds for the purposes of this Act) are:

(a) that one is male and the other is female (the “gender ground”),

(b) that they are of different F11[civil status] (the “F11[civil status] ground”),

(c) that one has family status and the other does not or that one has a different family status from the other (the “family status ground”),

(d) that they are of different sexual orientation (the “sexual orientation ground”),

(e) that one has a different religious belief from the other, or that one has a religious belief and the other has not (the “religion ground”),

(f) subject to subsection (3), that they are of different ages (the “age ground”),

(g) that one is a person with a disability and the other either is not or is a person with a different disability (the “disability ground”),

(h) that they are of different race, colour, nationality or ethnic or national origins (the “ground of race”),

(i) that one is a member of the Traveller community and the other is not (the “Traveller community ground”),

(j) that one—

(i) has in good faith applied for any determination or redress provided for in Part II or III,

(ii) has attended as a witness before the Authority, the F12[adjudication officer] or a court in connection with any inquiry or proceedings under this Act,

(iii) has given evidence in any criminal proceedings under this Act,

(iv) has opposed by lawful means an act which is unlawful under this Act, or

(v) has given notice of an intention to take any of the actions specified in subparagraphs (i) to (iv),

and the other has not (the “victimisation ground”).

F9[(3) (a) Treating a person who has not attained the age of 18 years less favourably or more favourably than another, whatever that person’s age shall not be regarded as discrimination on the age ground.

(b) Paragraph (a) does not apply in relation to the provision of motor vehicle insurance to licensed drivers under that age.

(3A) In any proceedings statistics are admissible for the purpose of determining whether discrimination has occurred by virtue of subsection (1)(c).]

F13[(3B) For the purposes of section 6(1)(c), the discriminatory grounds shall (in addition to the grounds specified in subsection (2)) include the ground that as between any two persons, that one is in receipt of rent supplement (within the meaning of section 6(8)), housing assistance (construed in accordance with Part 4 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014) or any payment under the Social Welfare Acts and the other is not (the “housing assistance ground”).]

(4) The Minister shall, not later than two years after the commencement of this section, review the operation of this Act to assess whether there is a need to add to the discriminatory grounds specified in subsection (2).

4.—(1) For the purposes of this Act discrimination includes a refusal or failure by the provider of a service to do all that is reasonable to accommodate the needs of a person with a disability by providing special treatment or facilities, if without such special treatment or facilities it would be impossible or unduly difficult for the person to avail himself or herself of the service.

(2) A refusal or failure to provide the special treatment or facilities to which subsection (1) refers shall not be deemed reasonable unless such provision would give rise to a cost, other than a nominal cost, to the provider of the service in question.

(3) A refusal or failure to provide the special treatment or facilities to which subsection (1) refers does not constitute discrimination if, by virtue of another provision of this Act, a refusal or failure to provide the service in question to that person would not constitute discrimination.

(4) Where a person has a disability that, in the circumstances, could cause harm to the person or to others, treating the person differently to the extent reasonably necessary to prevent such harm does not constitute discrimination.

(5) This section is without prejudice to the provisions of sections 7(2)(a), 9(a) and 15(2)(g) of the Education Act, 1998, in so far as they relate to functions of the Minister for Education and Science, recognised schools and boards of management in regard to students with a disability.

(6) In this section—

“provider of a service” means—

(a) the person disposing of goods in respect of which section 5(1) applies,

(b) the person responsible for providing a service in respect of which section 5(1) applies,

(c) the person disposing of any estate or interest in premises in respect of which section 6(1)(a) applies,

(d) the person responsible for the provision of accommodation or any related services or amenities in respect of which section 6(1)(c) applies,

(e) an educational establishment within the meaning of subsection (1) of section 7 in relation to any of the matters referred to in subsection (2) of that section, or

(f) a club within the meaning of section 8(1) in respect of admission to membership or a service offered to its members,

as the case may be, and “service” shall be construed accordingly;

“providing”, in relation to the special treatment or facilities to which subsection (1) refers, includes making provision for or allowing such treatment or facilities, and cognate words shall be construed accordingly.

5.—(1) A person shall not discriminate in disposing of goods to the public generally or a section of the public or in providing a service, whether the disposal or provision is for consideration or otherwise and whether the service provided can be availed of only by a section of the public.

(2) F14[Subject to subsections (4) and (4A), subsection (1) shall not apply in respect of—]

(a) an activity referred to in section 7(2),

(b) a service related to a matter provided for under section 6, or a service offered to its members by a club in respect of which section 8 applies,

(c) differences in the treatment of persons on the gender ground in relation to services of an aesthetic, cosmetic or similar nature, where the services require physical contact between the service provider and the recipient,

(d) differences in the treatment of persons in relation to annuities, pensions, insurance policies or any other matters related to the assessment of risk F15[(other than on the gender ground or in any other circumstances to which the Gender Goods and Services Directive is relevant)] where the treatment—

(i) is effected by reference to—

(I) actuarial or statistical data obtained from a source on which it is reasonable to rely, or

(II) other relevant underwriting or commercial factors,

and

(ii) is reasonable having regard to the data or other relevant factors,

F15[F14[(da) differences in the treatment of persons on the gender ground, or in any other circumstances to which the Gender Goods and Services Directive is relevant, related to the assessment of risk in respect of classes of insurance to which this paragraph applies pursuant to subsection (3) where the treatment—

(i) is effected by reference to—

(I) actuarial or statistical data obtained from a source on which it is reasonable to rely, or

(II) other relevant underwriting or commercial factors,

and

(ii) is reasonable having regard to the data or other relevant factors, and

(iii) is effected, in the case of a class of insurance specified in paragraph (a) or (b) of subsection (3), pursuant to a contract which is concluded before 21 December 2012,]]

(e) differences in the treatment of person on the religion ground in relation to goods or services provided for a religious purpose,

(f) differences in the treatment of persons on the gender, age or disability ground or on the basis of nationality or national origin in relation to the provision or organisation of a sporting facility or sporting event to the extent that the differences are reasonably necessary having regard to the nature of the facility or event and are relevant to the purpose of the facility or event,

(g) differences in the treatment of persons on the gender ground where embarrassment or infringement of privacy can reasonably be expected to result from the presence of a person of another gender,

(h) differences in the treatment of persons in a category of persons in respect of services that are provided for the principal purpose of promoting, for a bona fide purpose and in a bona fide manner, the special interests of persons in that category to the extent that the differences in treatment are reasonably necessary to promote those special interests,

(i) differences in the treatment of persons on the gender, age or disability ground or on the ground of race, reasonably required for reasons of authenticity, aesthetics, tradition or custom in connection with a dramatic performance or other entertainment,

(j) an age requirement for a person to be an adoptive or foster parent, where the requirement is reasonable having regard to the needs of the child or children concerned,

(k) a disposal of goods by will or gift, or

(l) differences, not otherwise specifically provided for in this section, in the treatment of persons in respect of the disposal of goods, or the provision of a service, which can reasonably be regarded as goods or a service suitable only to the needs of certain persons.

F15[(3) The classes of insurance to which paragraph (da) of subsection (2) applies are—

(a) those classes of insurance named ‘Motor Insurance’ in Part B of Annex I to the European Communities (Non-Life Insurance) Framework Regulations 1994 (S.I. No. 359 of 1994),

(b) those classes of insurance, being life assurance, specified as Class I, III or IV in Part A of Annex I to the European Communities (Life Assurance) Framework Regulations 1994 (S.I. No. 360 of 1994), and

(c) those classes of insurance which are contracts of insurance, or other insurance arrangements, which fall within paragraph (d) of the definition of ‘health insurance contract’ in the Health Insurance Act 1994 if, but only if, the differences in treatment referred to in paragraph (da) of subsection (2), in so far as they relate to such contracts or arrangements, as the case may be, are permitted by the law of the place where such contracts or arrangements, as the case may be, are marketed.

(4) With effect on and after 21 December 2009, nothing in subsection (2) shall be construed to permit differences in the treatment of persons in relation to premiums and benefits payable under insurance policies based, whether in whole or in part, on costs incurred by insurers in relation to pregnancy and maternity.

F16[(4A) (a) With effect on and after 21 December 2012, nothing in subsection (2) shall be construed to permit differences in the treatment of persons on the gender ground, or in any other circumstances to which the Gender Goods and Services Directive is relevant, related to the assessment of risk in respect of contracts of insurance of the classes of insurance specified in paragraph (a) or (b) of subsection (3) where such contracts are concluded on or after that date.

(b) For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in paragraph (a) shall be construed as applying to a contract of a class of insurance specified in subsection (3)(a) where the contract concerned is concluded before 21 December 2012 and expires before 21 December 2013, irrespective of whether any adjustment to the insurance cover provided under that contract or any related adjustment to premium is made to the contract concerned during its term and, accordingly, subsection (2)(da) shall continue to apply to that contract during its term. ]

(5) Subject to section 41(2A), the Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland (within the meaning of the Central Bank Act 1942 as amended by the Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland Act 2003) shall compile, publish and maintain data relevant to the use of gender as a determining actuarial factor in the assessment of risk in relation to the classes of insurance to which paragraph (da) of subsection (2) applies pursuant to subsection (3).]

F16[(6) The obligations imposed on the Central Bank of Ireland (within the meaning of the Central Bank Act 1942 (as amended by the Central Bank Reform Act 2010)) by virtue of subsection (5), in so far as those obligations relate to the compilation of data referred to in that subsection, shall cease to have effect on and after 21 December 2012.

(7) Nothing in subsection (6) shall be construed to affect the obligations imposed on the Central Bank of Ireland by virtue of subsection (5), to continue to maintain and publish data referred to in that subsection compiled before 21 December 2012. ]

6.—(1) A person shall not discriminate in—

(a) disposing of any estate or interest in premises,

(b) terminating any tenancy or other interest in premises, or

(c) F17[subject to subsection (1A), providing accommodation] or any services or amenities related to accommodation or ceasing to provide accommodation or any such services or amenities.

F18[(1A) Subsection (1)(c) is without prejudice to—

(a) any enactment or rule of law regulating the provision of accommodation, or

(b) the right of a person providing accommodation to make it a condition of the provision of that accommodation that rent supplement is paid directly to that person.]

(2) Subsection (1) does not apply in respect of—

(a) the disposal of any estate or interest in premises by will or gift,

(b) F19[…]

(c) any disposal of such an estate or interest, or any provision of accommodation or of any services or amenities relating to accommodation, which is not available to the public generally or a section of the public,

F20[(d) the provision of accommodation by a person in a part (other than a separate and self-contained part) of the person’s home, or where the provision of the accommodation affects the person’s private or family life or that of any other person residing in the home, or]

or

(e) the provision of accommodation to persons of one gender where embarrassment or infringement of privacy can reasonably be expected to result from the presence of a person of another gender.

(3) References in subsection (2) to the disposal of an estate or interest in premises or the provision of accommodation or of any services or amenities relating to accommodation include references to the termination of any tenancy or other interest in those premises or ceasing to provide such accommodation, services or amenities.

(4) F19[…]

(5) Where any premises or accommodation are reserved for the use of persons in a particular category of persons for a religious purpose or as a refuge, nursing home, retirement home, home for persons with a disability or hostel for homeless persons or for a similar purpose, a refusal to dispose of the premises or provide the accommodation to a person who is not in that category does not, for that reason alone, constitute discrimination.

(6) Nothing in subsection (1) shall be construed as prohibiting—

(a) a housing authority, pursuant to its functions under the Housing Acts, 1966 to 1998, or

(b) a body approved under section 6 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1992,

from providing, in relation to housing accommodation, different treatment to persons based on family size, family status, F21[civil status], disability, age or membership of the Traveller community.

F22[(7) (a) Nothing in subsection (1) shall be construed as prohibiting, in relation to housing accommodation provided by or on behalf of the Minister, different treatment to persons on the basis of nationality, gender, family size, family status, F21[civil status], disability, age or membership of the Traveller community.

 (b) Nothing in paragraph (a) shall derogate from any of the obligations of the State under the treaties governing the European Communities within the meaning of the European Communities Acts 1972 to 2003 or any Act adopted by an institution of those Communities.]

F18[(8) In this section, ‘rent supplement’ means a payment made under section 198(3) of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 towards the amount of rent payable by a person in respect of his or her residence.]

7.—(1) In this section “educational establishment” means a preschool service within the meaning of Part VII of the Child Care Act, 1991, a primary or post-primary school, an institution providing adult, continuing or further education, or a university or any other third-level or higher-level institution, whether or not supported by public funds.

(2) An educational establishment shall not discriminate in relation to—

(a) the admission or the terms or conditions of admission of a person as a student to the establishment,

(b) the access of a student to any course, facility or benefit provided by the establishment,

(c) any other term or condition of participation in the establishment by a student, or

(d) the expulsion of a student from the establishment or any other sanction against the student.

(3) An educational establishment does not discriminate under subsection (2) by reason only that—

(a) where the establishment is not a third-level institution and admits students of one gender only, it refuses to admit as a student a person who is not of that gender,

(b) where the establishment is an institution established for the purpose of providing training to ministers of religion and admits students of only one gender or religious belief, it refuses to admit as a student a person who is not of that gender or religious belief,

(c) where the establishment is a school providing primary or post-primary education to students and the objective of the school is to provide education in an environment which promotes certain religious values, it admits persons of a particular religious denomination in preference to others or it refuses to admit as a student a person who is not of that denomination and, in the case of a refusal, it is proved that the refusal is essential to maintain the ethos of the school,

(d) without prejudice to section 3 of the Refugee Act, 1996, where the establishment is an institution providing adult, continuing or further education or a university or other third-level institution—

(i) it provides different treatment in relation to—

F23[(I) the fees for admission or attendance by persons who are citizens of Ireland, nationals of another Member State, nationals of the Swiss Confederation or nationals of a member state of the European Economic Area and persons who are not, or]

(II) the allocation of places at the establishment to those nationals and other nationals,

or

(ii) it offers assistance to particular categories of persons—

(I) by way of sponsorships, scholarships, bursaries or other awards, being assistance which is justifiable, having regard to traditional and historical considerations, or

(II) in relation to the allocation of places at the establishment, where the allocation is made pursuant to an agreement concerning the exchange of students made between the establishment and an educational institution or authority in a jurisdiction other than the State,

or

(e) where the establishment is a university or other third-level institution, it provides different treatment in the allocation of places at the establishment to mature students (within the meaning of the Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Acts, 1968 to 1992).

(4) Subsection (2) does not apply—

(a) in respect of differences in the treatment of students on the gender, age or disability ground in relation to the provision or organisation of sporting facilities or sporting events, to the extent that the differences are reasonably necessary having regard to the nature of the facilities or events, or

(b) to the extent that compliance with any of its provisions in relation to a student with a disability would, by virtue of the disability, make impossible, or have a seriously detrimental effect on, the provision by an educational establishment of its services to other students.

F24[(5) (a) In this subsection ‘grants’ means grants to assist persons to attend or continue to attend—

(i) an institution providing adult, continuing or further education,

(ii) a university, or

(iii) any other third-level or higher-level institution,

whether or not supported by public funds.

 (b) The Minister for Education and Science does not discriminate where he or she—

(i) requires grants to be restricted to persons who are F23[citizens of Ireland, nationals of a Member State, nationals of the Swiss Confederation or nationals of a member state of the European Economic Area], or

(ii) requires F23[such citizens or nationals] and other persons to be treated differently in relation to the making of grants.]

F25[(6) In this section, ‘member state of the European Economic Area’ means a state that is a contracting party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area signed at Oporto on 2 May 1992, as adjusted by all subsequent amendments to that Agreement.]

8.—(1) In this section—

“certificate of registration”, in relation to a club, means the certificate of registration of the club under the Registration of Clubs Acts, 1904 to 1999;

“club” means a club that has applied for or holds a certificate of registration.

(2) For the purposes of this section—

(a) a club shall be considered to be a discriminating club if—

(i) it has any rule, policy or practice which discriminates against a member or an applicant for membership, or

(ii) a person involved in its management discriminates against a member or an applicant for membership in relation to the affairs of the club,

(b) without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (a), any of the following acts, if done by a club or a person involved in its management on any of the discriminatory grounds, is evidence that the club is a discriminating club:

(i) refusing to admit a person to membership;

(ii) providing different terms and conditions of membership for members or applicants for membership;

(iii) terminating the membership of a person or subjecting a member to any other sanction; or

(iv) refusing or failing, in contravention of section 4(1), to do all that is reasonable to accommodate the needs of a member, or an applicant for membership, with a disability.

(3) Any person, including the Authority (in this section referred to as “the applicant”), may, on application to the District Court (in this section referred to as “the Court”), request that the Court make a determination as to whether a club is a discriminating club.

(4) An application may be dismissed by the Court if it is found to have been brought in bad faith or to be frivolous or vexatious or to relate to a trivial matter.

(5) A copy of the application shall be served by the applicant, by personal service or by post, on the club and on such members, officers and employees of the club (if any) and such other persons (if any) as the Court may by order direct and the application shall be considered by the Court, providing to the applicant, the club and to any such members, officers, employees and other persons a reasonable opportunity to make representations.

(6) After considering the representations, the Court shall—

(a) make an order in writing setting out its determination as to whether or not the club is a discriminating club, and

(b) cause a copy of the order to be transmitted to the Minister.

(7) (a) Where—

(i) the Court makes an order under subsection (6)(a) setting out its determination that a club is a discriminating club, and

(ii) the order is the first such order in relation to the club,

the Court shall include in the order a provision suspending the certificate of registration of the club for a period not exceeding 30 days.

(b) Where the Court makes any subsequent such order, section 10 shall apply and have effect in relation to it.

(8) (a) The applicant, the club or any other person on whom a copy of the application under subsection (3) was served may, within 42 days after the order, appeal to the Circuit Court against the order or a provision of the order suspending the certificate of registration.

(b) On an appeal against the order the Circuit Court may by order—

(i) in case the District Court has determined that the club is not a discriminating club, either—

(I) affirm the order, or

(II) allow the appeal, make a determination that theclub is a discriminating club and, if the determination is the first such determination in relation to the club, suspend the certificate of registration of the club for a period not exceeding 30 days,

(ii) in any other case—

(I) affirm the order,

(II) where the order includes a provision suspending the certificate of registration, affirm the determination of the District Court but vary the period of suspension, or

(III) allow the appeal.

(c) On an appeal which is only against a provision of the order suspending the certificate of registration, the Circuit Court may by order vary the period of suspension.

(d) The Circuit Court shall cause a copy of its order to be sent to the Minister.

(9) A period of suspension of a certificate of registration provided for in an order under subsection (6)(a) shall commence—

(a) if no appeal is made against the order or the period of suspension, on the 50th day after the order is made, or

(b) if such an appeal is made and the order is affirmed, or the period of suspension is affirmed or varied, on the 50th day after the order is made on the appeal,

and shall end—

(i) if no appeal is made against the order or the period of suspension, on the expiration of the period of suspension provided for in the order,

(ii) if such an appeal is made and the order or period of suspension is affirmed, on the expiration of the period of suspension so provided for, or

(iii) if on appeal the period of suspension is varied, on the expiration of the period as so varied.

(10) Where an appeal against an order under subsection (6)(a) (other than an order referred to in subsection (7)(a)) is not brought, the order shall come into effect on the 50th day after it is made.

(11) An order under this section suspending the certificate of registration of a club shall, while it is in force, have effect for the purposes of the Registration of Clubs Acts, 1904 to 1999, as if no certificate under those Acts had been granted in respect of the club for the period of suspension.

(12) No employee who is working in a club during any period of suspension of the club’s certificate of registration shall be disadvantaged by reason of the suspension in his or her employment during that period.

(13) For the purpose of subsection (12)“employee” means any person who works under a contract of employment with an employer or is a regular part-time employee as defined in section 1 of the Worker Protection (Regular Part-Time Employees) Act, 1991.

(14) The Minister shall cause particulars of an order under subsection (6)(a) and of any order made by the Circuit Court on appeal to be published or made available in such form and manner as the Minister considers appropriate in the circumstances—

(a) after the expiration of 50 days from the making of the order under subsection (6)(a), or

(b) if the order has been appealed against, after the appeal has been finally determined.

(15) A club that is determined by the District Court under this section to be a discriminating club may at any time, on application to that Court, request that it make a determination as to whether the club continues to be a discriminating club and, where an application is made, the provisions of this section shall apply in the same manner and to the same extent as if the application were made under subsection (3), except that a copy of the application shall, unless the Court otherwise directs, be served by the club, by personal service or by post, on the person who was the original applicant, if possible, and on such other persons as the Court may by order direct.

9.—(1) For the purposes of section 8, a club shall not be considered to be a discriminating club by reason only that—

(a) if its principal purpose is to cater only for the needs of—

(i) persons of a particular gender, F26[civil status], family status, sexual orientation, religious belief, age, disability, nationality or ethnic or national origin,

(ii) persons who are members of the Traveller community, or

(iii) persons who have no religious belief,

it refuses membership to other persons,

(b) it confines access to a membership benefit or privilege to members within the category of a particular gender or age, where—

(i) it is not practicable for members outside the category to enjoy the benefit or privilege at the same time as members within the category, and

(ii) arrangements have been made by the club which offer the same or a reasonably equivalent benefit or privilege both to members within the category and to members outside the category,

(c) it has different types of membership, access to which is not based on any discriminatory ground,

(d) for the purpose of reducing or eliminating the effect of any rule or practice of the club (whether adopted before or after the commencement of this section) restricting access to particular types of membership to persons of a particular gender it offers concessionary rates, fees or membership arrangements to persons who were or are disadvantaged by any such rule or practice, or

(e) it provides different treatment to members in the category of a particular gender, age, disability, nationality or national origin in relation to sporting facilities or events and the different treatment is relevant to the purpose of the facilities or events and is reasonably necessary.

(2) For the purposes of section 8, a club shall not be considered to be a discriminating club by reason only that it—

(a) has, for the principal purpose of promoting equality, a reserved place or places on its board or committee of management for persons who are members of a particular category, or

(b) takes other measures for the principal purpose of obtaining a more equal involvement in club matters of persons who are members of a particular category.

10.—(1) Notwithstanding anything in the Registration of Clubs Acts, 1904 to 1999—

(a) subject to paragraph (b), while an order under section 8 determining that a club is a discriminating club remains in effect, no certificate of registration under those Acts shall be granted to or renewed for the benefit of the club, or

(b) where an order under section 8 has been made determining that a club is a discriminating club and an application under subsection (15) of that section in respect of the club is pending, the certificate of registration of the club under those Acts may be renewed in accordance with those Acts but shall cease to be in force—

(i) on the expiration of one year after the date of the renewal, if no determination under section 8 has been made within that period in respect of the club, or

(ii) on the date of a determination under section 8 that the club has not ceased to be a discriminating club,

whichever first occurs.

(2) In this section “order under section 8” does not include an order under that section providing for the suspension of the certificate of registration of the club concerned under the Registration of Clubs Acts, 1904 to 1999

11.—(1) A person shall not sexually harass or harass (within the meaning of subsection (4) or (5)) another person (“the victim”) where the victim—

(a) avails or seeks to avail himself or herself of any service provided by the person or purchases or seeks to purchase any goods being disposed of by the person,

(b) is the proposed or actual recipient from the person of any premises or of any accommodation or services or amenities related to accommodation, or

(c) is a student at, has applied for admission to or avails or seeks to avail himself or herself of any service offered by, any educational establishment (within the meaning of section 7) at which the person is in a position of authority.

(2) A person (“the responsible person”) who is responsible for the operation of any place that is an educational establishment or at which goods, services or accommodation facilities are offered to the public shall not permit another person who has a right to be present in or to avail himself or herself of any facilities, goods or services provided at that place, to suffer sexual harassment or harassment at that place.

(3) It shall be a defence for the responsible person to prove that he or she took such steps as are reasonably practicable to prevent the sexual harassment or harassment, as the case may be, of the other person referred to in subsection (2) or of a category of persons of which that other person is a member.

F27[(4) A person’s rejection of, or submission to, sexual or other harassment may not be used by any other person as a basis for a decision affecting that person.

(5) (a) In this section—

(i) references to harassment are to any form of unwanted conduct related to any of the discriminatory grounds, and

(ii) references to sexual harassment are to any form of unwanted verbal, non-verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature,

being conduct which in either case has the purpose or effect of violating a person’s dignity and creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for the person.

(b) Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (a), such unwanted conduct may consist of acts, requests, spoken words, gestures or the production, display or circulation of written words, pictures or other material.]

12.—(1) A person shall not publish or display or cause to be published or displayed an advertisement which indicates an intention to engage in prohibited conduct or might reasonably be understood as indicating such an intention.

(2) A person who makes a statement which the person knows to be false with a view to securing a publication or display in contravention of subsection (1) shall, upon the publication or display being made, be guilty of an offence.

(3) In subsection (1), “advertisement” includes every form of advertisement, whether to the public or not and whether in a newspaper or other publication, on television or radio or by display of a notice or by any other means, and references to the publishing or display of advertisements shall be construed accordingly.

13.—(1) A person shall not procure or attempt to procure another person to engage in prohibited conduct.

(2) A person who contravenes subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence.

14.—(1) Nothing in this Act shall be construed as prohibiting—

(a) the taking of any action that is required by or under—

(i) any enactment or order of a court,

(ii) any act done or measure adopted by the European Union, by the European Communities or institutions thereof or by bodies competent under the Treaties establishing the European Communities, or

(iii) any convention or other instrument imposing an international obligation on the State,

F28[(aa) on the basis of nationality—

(i) any action taken by a public authority in relation to a non-national—

(I) who, when the action was taken, was either outside the State or, for the purposes of the Immigration Act 2004, unlawfully present in it, or

(II) in accordance with any provision or condition made by or under any enactment and arising from his or her entry to or residence in the State,

or

(ii) any action taken by the Minister in relation to a non-national F29[where the action arises from an action referred to in subparagraph (i),]]

or

(b) preferential treatment or the taking of positive measures which are bona fide intended to—

(i) promote equality of opportunity for persons who are, in relation to other persons, disadvantaged or who have been or are likely to be unable to avail themselves of the same opportunities as those other persons, or

(ii) cater for the special needs of persons, or a category of persons, who, because of their circumstances, may require facilities, arrangements, services or assistance not required by persons F30[who do not have those special needs, or]

F31[(c) the use of gender status or the collection, storage or use of gender-related information by insurance providers that is bona fide intended for any or all of the following purposes:

(i) reserving and internal pricing;

(ii) reinsurance pricing;

(iii) marketing and advertising;

(iv) life and health underwriting.]

F28[(2) In subsection (1)(aa)—

‘non-national’ has the meaning given to it by the Immigration Act 1999 and includes a category of nonnationals;

‘public authority’ means—

 (a) a Minister of the Government,

 (b) an immigration officer appointed or deemed to have been appointed under section 3 of the Immigration Act 2004,

 (c) the Commissioners of Public Works in Ireland,

 (d) a local authority within the meaning of the Local Government Act 2001,

 (e) the Eastern Regional Health Authority,

 (f) an area health board within the meaning of the Health (Eastern Regional Health Authority) Act 1999,

 (g) a health board,

 (h) a harbour authority within the meaning of the Harbours Act 1946,

 (i) a board or other body (not being a company) established by or under statute,

 (j) a company in which all the shares are held by, or on behalf of, or by directors appointed by, a Minister of the Government, or

 (k) a company in which all the shares are held by a board or other body referred to in paragraph (i), or by a company referred to in paragraph (j).

(3) Nothing in subsection (1)(aa) shall derogate from any of the obligations of the State under the treaties governing the European Communities within the meaning of the European Communities Acts 1972 to 2003 or any act adopted by an institution of those Communities.]

15.—(1) For greater certainty, nothing in this Act prohibiting discrimination shall be construed as requiring a person to dispose of goods or premises, or to provide services or accommodation or services and amenities related to accommodation, to another person (“the customer”) in circumstances which would lead a reasonable individual having the responsibility, knowledge and experience of the person to the belief, on grounds other than discriminatory grounds, that the disposal of the goods or premises or the provision of the services or accommodation or the services and amenities related to accommodation, as the case may be, to the customer would produce a substantial risk of criminal or disorderly conduct or behaviour or damage to property at or in the vicinity of the place in which the goods or services are sought or the premises or accommodation are located.

(2) Action taken in good faith by or on behalf of the holder of a licence or other authorisation which permits the sale of intoxicating liquor, for the sole purpose of ensuring compliance with the provisions of the Licensing Acts, 1833 to 1999, shall not constitute discrimination.

F32[(3) (a) This subsection applies to the option given under subsection (2), (3) or (4) of section 34 of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 1988 to the holder of a licence of any licensed premises to allow a person under 18 to be in the bar of those premises at the times, or in the circumstances, specified in those subsections.

(b) The non-exercise of the option to which this subsection applies shall not of itself constitute discrimination.

(c) The reference in paragraph (a) to section 34 is to that section as substituted by section 14 of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2003.

(4) If—

(a) the holder of a licence or other authorisation which permits the sale of intoxicating liquor adopts a policy of refusing to supply intoxicating liquor to any person below a specified age which exceeds 18 years,

(b) a notice setting out the policy is displayed in a conspicuous place in or on the exterior of the premises, and

(c) the policy is implemented in good faith,

a refusal to serve intoxicating liquor to such a person shall not constitute discrimination on the age ground.

(5) Subsections (3) and (4) are without prejudice to subsections (1) and (2).]

16.—(1) Imposing or maintaining a reasonable preferential fee, charge or rate in respect of anything offered or provided to or in respect of persons together with their children, married couples, persons in a specific age group or persons with a disability does not constitute—

(a) discrimination for the purposes of section 5 or 6, or

(b) a discriminatory rule, policy or practice for the purposes of section 8(2)(a).

(2) Treating a person differently does not constitute discrimination where the person—

(a) is so treated solely in the exercise of a clinical judgment in connection with the diagnosis of illness or his or her medical treatment, or

(b) is incapable of entering into an enforceable contract or of giving an informed consent and for that reason the treatment is reasonable in the particular case.

17.—F33[…]

18.—F34[…]

19.— Where a road authority, within the meaning of section 2 of the Roads Act, 1993, constructs or alters, or consents to the construction or alteration of, any public footway or other public pavement, it shall, for the purpose of facilitating the mobility of persons with a disability, provide, or require the provision of, ramps, dished kerbs or other sloped areas at appropriate places at or in the vicinity of any pedestrian crossing or intersection used by pedestrians in that part of the footway or pavement so constructed or altered.

20.— In this Part, unless the context otherwise requires—

F35[‘complainant’ means—

(a) a person referred to in section 21(1), or

(b) where such a person is unable, by reason of an intellectual or psychological disability, to pursue effectively a claim for redress under this Part, his or her parent, guardian or other person acting in place of a parent;]

F36[…]

F37[‘Minister’ means the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation;]

“respondent” means a person who is alleged by a complainant in a case under section 21(1) to have engaged in prohibited conduct.

21.—(1) A person who claims that prohibited conduct has been directed against him or her may, subject to this section, seek redress by referring the case to the F38[Director of the Workplace Relations Commission].

F39[(1A) If the grounds for such a claim as is referred to in subsection (1) arise—

(a) on the gender ground, or

(b) in any other circumstances (including circumstances amounting to victimisation) to which the Gender Goods and Services Directive is relevant,

then, subject to subsections (2) to (7) and (8) to (11), the person making the claim may seek redress by referring the case to the Circuit Court instead of referring the case to the ]Director of the Workplace Relations Commission] under subsection (1) (and, if the case is referred to the Circuit Court, no further appeal lies, other than an appeal to the High Court on a point of law).]

(2) Before seeking redress under this section the complainant—

(a) shall, within 2 months after the prohibited conducted is alleged to have occurred, or, where more than one incident of prohibited conduct is alleged to have occurred, within 2 months after the last such occurrence, notify the respondent in writing of—

(i) the nature of the allegation,

(ii) the complainant’s intention, if not satisfied with the respondent’s response to the allegation, F40[to seek redress under this Act],

and

(b) may in that notification, with a view to assisting the complainant in deciding whether to refer the case to the ]Director of the Workplace Relations Commission]F39[or, as the case may be, the Circuit Court], question the respondent in writing so as to obtain material information and the respondent may, if the respondent so wishes, reply to any such questions.

F41[(2A) For the purposes of subsection (2) the date of notification is the date on which the notification is sent, unless it is shown that the notification was not received by the respondent.]

F40[(3) (a) On application by a complainant the F38[Director of the Workplace Relations Commission]F39[or, as the case may be, the Circuit Court] may—

(i) for reasonable cause, direct that in relation to the complainant subsection (2) shall have effect as if for the reference to 2 months there were substituted a reference to such period not exceeding 4 months as is specified in the direction, or

(ii) exceptionally, where satisfied that it is fair and reasonable in the particular circumstance of the case to do so direct that subsection (2) shall not apply in relation to the complainant to the extent specified in the direction,

and, where such a direction is given, this Part shall have effect accordingly.

 (b) In deciding whether to give a direction under paragraph (a)(ii) the F38[Director of the Workplace Relations Commission]F39[or, as the case may be, the Circuit Court] shall have regard to all the relevant circumstances, including—

(i) the extent to which the respondent is, or is likely to be, aware of the circumstances in which the prohibited conduct occurred, and

(ii) the extent of any risk of prejudice to the respondent’s ability to deal adequately with the complaint.]

(4) The F38[Director of the Workplace Relations Commission]F42[or, as the case may be, the Circuit Court shall not investigate a case unless the F38[Director of the Workplace Relations Commission] or the Circuit Court, as the case may be,] is satisfied either that the respondent has replied to the notification or that at least one month has elapsed after it was sent to the respondent.

(5) The Minister may by regulations prescribe the form to be used by a complainant and respondent for the purposes of subsection (2).

F40[(6) (a) Subject to subsections (3)(a)(ii) and (7), a claim for redress in respect of prohibited conduct may not be referred under this section after the end of the period of 6 months from the date of the occurrence of the prohibited conduct to which the case relates or, as the case may be, the date of its most recent occurrence.

 (b) On application by a complainant the F38[Director of the Workplace Relations Commission]F39[or, as the case may be, the Circuit Court] may, for reasonable cause, direct that in relation to the complainant paragraph (a) shall have effect as if for the reference to a period of 6 months there were substituted a reference to such period not exceeding 12 months as is specified in the direction; and, where such a direction is given, this Part shall have effect accordingly.

(7) Where a delay by a complainant in referring a case under this Act is due to any misrepresentation by the respondent, subsection (6)(a) shall apply as if the references to the date of occurrence of prohibited conduct were references to the date on which the misrepresentation came to the complainant’s notice.]

F41[(7A) F43[(a) Not later than 42 days from the date of a decision of the F38[Director of the Workplace Relations Commission] on an application by a complainant for an extension of time under subsection (3) or (6), the complainant or respondent may appeal against the decision to the Circuit Court on notice to the F38[Director of the Workplace Relations Commission] specifying the grounds of the appeal.]

(b) On the appeal the Court may affirm, quash or vary the decision.

(c) No further appeal lies, other than an appeal to the High Court on a point of law.

(d) Unless otherwise agreed by the complainant and respondent, effect shall not be given to a decision of the F38[Director of the Workplace Relations Commission] on such an application until—

(i) the period of 42 days mentioned in paragraph (a) has expired, or

(ii) any appeal against it has been determined,

whichever first occurs.]

(8) Information is material information for the purposes of this section if it is—

(a) information as to the respondent’s reasons for doing or omitting to do any relevant act and as to any practices or procedures material to any such act,

(b) information, other than confidential information, about the treatment of other persons who stand in relation to the respondent in the same or a similar position as the complainant, or

(c) other information which is not confidential information and which, in the circumstances of the case in question, it is reasonable for the complainant to require.

(9) In subsection (8)“confidential information” means any information which relates to a particular individual, which can be identified as so relating and to the disclosure of which that individual does not agree.

(10) This section is without prejudice to the other provisions of this Act relating to the obtaining of information.

F41[(11) For the purposes of this section prohibited conduct occurs—

(a) if the act constituting it extends over a period, at the end of the period,

(b) if it arises by virtue of a provision which operates over a period, throughout the period.]

21A.—(a) A claim for redress under section 21,

(b) an appeal to the Circuit Court under section 28, or

(c) an application to that Court under section 31,

is deemed to have been made on the date on which the claim, notice of appeal or application is received, and those sections shall be construed accordingly.]

22.—(1) The F46[Director of the Workplace Relations Commission] may dismiss a claim at any stage if of opinion that it has been made in bad faith or is frivolous, vexatious or misconceived or relates to a trivial matter.

(2) Not later than 42 days after the F46[Director of the Workplace Relations Commission] dismisses a claim under this section, the complainant may appeal against the decision to the Circuit Court on notice to the F46[Director of the Workplace Relations Commission] specifying the grounds of the appeal.

(3) On appeal the Court may affirm or quash the decision.

(4) No further appeal lies, other than an appeal to the High Court on a point of law.]

23.—(1) Where it appears to the Authority that—

(a) prohibited conduct—

(i) is being generally directed against persons, or

(ii) has been directed against a person who has not made a claim under section 21(1) in respect of the prohibited conduct and it is not reasonable to expect that the person will do so,

or

(b) a person has contravened or is contravening section 12(1) or 19 or regulations made under section 17 or 18,

the matter may be referred by the Authority to the F47[Director of the Workplace Relations Commission].

(2) Where a matter is referred to the F47[Director of the Workplace Relations Commission] under subsection (1) it shall be dealt with in the same manner and to the same extent as if—

(a) it were a claim referred to the F47[Director of the Workplace Relations Commission] under section 21(1),

(b) the Authority were the complainant and the person alleged to have engaged in the prohibited conduct or to have committed the contravention referred to in subsection (1)(b), as the case may be, were the respondent, and

(c) where the matter involved a contravention referred to in subsection (1)(b), the contravention were prohibited conduct.

(3) Where, on application to the High Court or the Circuit Court, the Authority satisfies the Court that the F47[Director of the Workplace Relations Commission], pursuant to section 25(4), has decided that a person has—

(a) engaged in prohibited conduct, or

(b) contravened section 12(1) or 19 or regulations made under section 17 or 18,

and that there is a likelihood of a further occurrence of the prohibited conduct or a further contravention by the person, the Court may grant an injunction or such other relief as the Court deems necessary to prevent the further occurrence or contravention.

F48[(4) The relationship between a solicitor employed by the Authority or any barrister retained by him or her and a person referred to in subsection (1)(a) shall be the same as the relationship between a solicitor or barrister and a client who is not such a person.

(5) Subsection (4) is without prejudice to the rights and responsibilities of the Authority and the obligations arising out of the relationship between the Authority and the solicitors employed by it.

(6) For the avoidance of doubt, it is declared that sections 59 (prohibition of solicitor acting as agent for unqualified person) and 64 (bodies corporate) of the Solicitors Act 1954 do not apply in regard to the relationship between a solicitor employed by the Authority and a person referred to in the said subsection (1)(a).]

24.—(1) Subject to subsection (2), if at any time after a case has been referred to the F49[Director of the Workplace Relations Commission] under section 21 it appears to the F49[Director of the Workplace Relations Commission] that the case is one which could be resolved by mediation, the F49[Director of the Workplace Relations Commission] shall refer the case for mediation to an F50[mediation officer].

(2) If the complainant or the respondent objects to a case being dealt with by way of mediation, the F49[Director of the Workplace Relations Commission] shall not exercise his or her powers under this section but shall deal with the case under section 25.

(3) Mediation shall be conducted in private.

(4) Where a case referred under section 21 is resolved by mediation—

(a) the F50[mediation officer] concerned shall prepare a written record of the terms of the settlement,

(b) the written record of the terms of the settlement shall be signed by the complainant and the respondent,

(c) the F50[mediation officer] shall send a copy of the written record, as so signed, to the complainant and the respondent, and

(d) a copy of the written record shall be retained by the F49[Director of the Workplace Relations Commission].

(5) If, after a case has been referred to an F50[mediation officer], it appears to the F50[mediation officer] that the case cannot be resolved by mediation, the officer shall issue a notice to that effect to the complainant and the respondent.

(6) Where—

(a) a notice has been issued under subsection (5) with respect to a F51[case, and]

(b) within F52[42 days] from the issue of that notice the complainant makes an application F53[in writing] to the F49[Director of the Workplace Relations Commission] for the resumption of the hearing of the F51[case,]

(c) F54[…]

the F49[Director of the Workplace Relations Commission] shall deal with the case in accordance with section 25.

25.—F56[(1) Where a case which has been referred to the F55[Director of the Workplace Relations Commission] under section 21—

(a) does not fall to be dealt with by way of mediation under section 24, or

(b) falls to be dealt with under this section by virtue of section 24(6),

the F55[Director of the Workplace Relations Commission] shall investigate the case and may, as part of that investigation and if the F55[Director of the Workplace Relations Commission] considers it appropriate, hear persons appearing to the F55[Director of the Workplace Relations Commission] to be interested. ]

F57[(1A) (a) Claims to have been discriminated against on more than one of the discriminatory grounds (other than the victimisation ground) shall be investigated as a single case, and

(b) claims to have been discriminated against on discriminatory grounds which include the victimisation ground may, in an appropriate case, be so investigated,

but a decision shall be made on each of the claims.]

(2) An investigation under this section shall be held in private.

F58[(2A) (a) Where the F55[Director of the Workplace Relations Commission] considers that the case may be dealt with on the basis of written submissions only, the F55[Director of the Workplace Relations Commission] shall notify the parties in writing of his or her proposal to do so.

(b) A notification under paragraph (a) shall inform the parties of the right to make representations to the F55[Director of the Workplace Relations Commission] in accordance with paragraph (c).

(c) A person who receives a notification under paragraph (a) may, within 28 days from the issue of the notification, make representations to the F55[Director of the Workplace Relations Commission] as to why the case should not be dealt with on the basis of written submissions only.

(d) Where, in representations made pursuant to paragraph (c), objection is made to the F55[Director of the Workplace Relations Commission] dealing with the matter on the basis of written submissions only, the F55[Director of the Workplace Relations Commission] shall not determine the matter in that manner. ]

(3) The Minister may by regulations specify—

(a) procedures to be followed by the F55[Director of the Workplace Relations Commission] in carrying out investigations (or any description of investigation) under this section, and

(b) time limits applicable to such investigations, including procedures for extending those limits in certain circumstances,

but before making any such regulations the Minister shall consult the F55[Director of the Workplace Relations Commission] and the Authority.

(4) At the conclusion of an investigation under this section the F55[Director of the Workplace Relations Commission] shall make a decision on the case, and the decision, if it is in favour of the complainant, shall provide for redress in accordance with section 27.

25A.—A party (whether complainant or respondent) to proceedings under section 24 or 25 may be represented by any individual or body authorised by the party in that behalf.]

26.—If, in the course of an investigation under section 25, it appears to the F60[Director of the Workplace Relations Commission]—

(a) that the respondent did not reply to a notification under section 21(2)(a) or to any question asked by the complainant under section 21(2)(b),

(b) that the information supplied by the respondent in response to the notification or any such question was false or misleading, or

(c) that the information supplied in response to any such question was not such as would assist the complainant in deciding whether to refer the case to the F60[Director of the Workplace Relations Commission],

the F60[Director of the Workplace Relations Commission] may draw such inferences, if any, as seem appropriate from the failure to reply or, as the case may be, the supply of information as mentioned in paragraph (b) or (c).

27.—(1) Subject to this section, the types of redress for which a decision of the F61[Director of the Workplace Relations Commission] under section 25 may provide are either or both of the following as may be appropriate in the circumstances:

(a) an order for compensation for the effects of F62[the prohibited conduct concerned]; or

(b) an order that a person or persons specified in the order take a course of action which is so specified.

(2) The maximum amount which may be ordered by the F61[Director of the Workplace Relations Commission] by way of compensation under subsection (1)(a) shall be the maximum amount that could be awarded by the District Court in civil cases in contract.

F63[(3) The maximum amount specified in subsection (2) applies notwithstanding that conduct the subject of the investigation constituted—

(a) discrimination on more than one of the discriminatory grounds (other than the victimisation ground), or

(b) both discrimination on one or more than one of those grounds (other than the victimisation ground) and harassment or sexual harassment.

(4) An order for compensation under this section may not be made in favour of the Authority in a case referred by it to the F61[Director of the Workplace Relations Commission] under section 23(1).]

F64[(5) The types of redress for which the Circuit Court may provide on a reference under section 21(1A) are either or both of the following as may be appropriate in the circumstances of the particular case:

(a) an order for compensation for the effects of the prohibited conduct concerned (including compensation for loss and damage suffered by the person injured as a result of the prohibited conduct in a way which is dissuasive and proportionate to the loss and damage suffered);

(b) an order that a person or persons specified in the order take a course of action which is so specified,

and no enactment relating to the jurisdiction of the Circuit Court shall be taken to limit the amount of compensation which may be ordered by the Circuit Court by virtue of this subsection. ]

28.—(1) Not later than 42 days from the date of a decision of the F65[Director of the Workplace Relations Commission] under section 25, the complainant or respondent involved in the claim may appeal against the decision to the Circuit Court by notice in writing specifying the grounds of the appeal.

(2) In its determination of the appeal, the Circuit Court may provide for any redress for which provision could have been made by the decision appealed against (substituting the discretion of the Circuit Court for the discretion of the F65[Director of the Workplace Relations Commission]).

(3) No further appeal lies, other than an appeal to the High Court on a point of law.

29.—(1) Every decision of the F66[Director of the Workplace Relations Commission] under this Part shall be in writing and—

(a) if the F66[Director of the Workplace Relations Commission] thinks fit, or

(b) if any of the parties so requests,

shall include a statement of the reasons why the F66[Director of the Workplace Relations Commission] reached the decision.

(2) By notice in writing to the complainant and the respondent the F66[Director of the Workplace Relations Commission] may correct any mistake (including an omission) of a verbal or formal nature in a decision under this Part.

(3) If any person who participated in an investigation is not correctly identified in the resulting decision, the correction of that error shall be regarded as falling within subsection (2).

30.—(1) A copy of every decision of the F67[Director of the Workplace Relations Commission] under this Part shall be given to the complainant and the respondent and every such decision shall be published F68[on the internet in such form and manner as the Director General of the Workplace Relations Commission considers appropriate] and a copy thereof made available for inspection at the office of the F67[Director of the Workplace Relations Commission].

(2) Any reference in this section to a decision includes a reference to any statement of reasons included in the decision as mentioned in section 29(1).

(3) The contents of any document published or made available by virtue of this section shall be protected by absolute privilege.

F69[31. Section 43 of the Act of 2015 shall apply to a decision under section 25 as it applies to a decision of an adjudication officer under section 41 of that Act, subject to—

(a) the modification that the following paragraph is substituted for paragraph (b) of subsection (1):

‘(b) on application to it in that behalf, with the consent of the complainant, by the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission,’,

and

(b) the following modifications:

(i) references to a complaint or dispute shall be construed as references to a case so referred;

(ii) the reference to section 41 shall be construed as a reference to section 25 of this Act;

(iii) in subsection (1), the words ‘decision of the Director General of the Workplace Relations Commission under section 25 of this Act’ shall be substituted for the words ‘decision of an adjudication officer under that section’;

(iv) the deletion of subsection (2);

(v) the words ‘decision of the Director General of the Workplace Relations Commission under section 25 of this Act’ shall be substituted for the words ‘decision of an adjudication officer’ in each place that they occur; and

(vi) references to employee and employer shall be construed as references to complainant and respondent respectively.]

32.—F70[…]

33.—(1) In this section—

“designated officer” means the F71[Director of the Workplace Relations Commission], an F72[adjudication officer] or a person authorised in that behalf by the F71[Director of the Workplace Relations Commission];

“material information” means information which a designated officer has reasonable grounds for believing to be relevant for the purpose set out in subsection (2).

(2) For the purpose of enabling information to be obtained which the F71[Director of the Workplace Relations Commission] may require to enable him or her to exercise his or her functions under this Part, a designated officer may do any one or more of the following:

(a) at all reasonable times, peaceably enter premises;

(b) require a person to produce to the designated officer any records, books, documents or other things which are in that person’s power or control and which the designated officer has reasonable grounds for believing to contain material information, and to give the designated officer such information and access as the designated officer may reasonably require in relation to the contents of any such records, books, documents and other things;

(c) inspect and copy or take extracts from any such records, books, documents or other things;

(d) inspect any work in progress at any premises.

(3) The powers conferred by subsection (2) shall not be exercised in respect of a dwelling or any person, record, book, document or other thing in a dwelling unless the Minister (or an officer of the Minister authorised by the Minister in that behalf) certifies in writing that there are reasonable grounds for believing that there is in the dwelling information which is material to the investigation of a case, or the consideration of an appeal, under this Part.

(4) If a judge of the District Court is satisfied by information on oath of a designated officer that there is reasonable cause for suspecting that any records, books, documents or other things containing material information are to be found at any premises, the judge may issue a search warrant under this section.

(5) A search warrant issued under this section shall be expressed and operate to authorise a named designated officer, accompanied by such other persons as the named designated officer thinks necessary, at any time or times within one month from the date of issue of the warrant, on production if so requested of the warrant—

(a) to enter the premises named in the warrant, if necessary by force,

(b) to search those premises, and

(c) to exercise any such power as is described in subsection (2)(b) or (c) in relation to persons and records, books, documents or other things found at the premises.

34.—(1) For the purpose of enabling the F73[Director of the Workplace Relations Commission] to exercise his or her functions under this Part, the F73[Director of the Workplace Relations Commission]—

(a) may require a person who, in the opinion of the F73[Director of the Workplace Relations Commission] is in possession of, or has in his or her power or control, any information relevant to the exercise of those functions, to furnish that information to the F73[Director of the Workplace Relations Commission], and

(b) where appropriate, may require such person to attend before the F73[Director of the Workplace Relations Commission] for that purpose,

and the person shall comply with the requirement accordingly.

(2) A requirement under subsection (1) may specify a time and place at which information is to be furnished or a person is to attend, and if no such time or place is specified in the requirement, the person to whom the requirement is addressed shall comply with it as soon as is reasonably practicable.

(3) A person required to attend before the F73[Director of the Workplace Relations Commission] under subsection (1)(b)—

(a) shall answer fully and truthfully any question put to him or her by the F73[Director of the Workplace Relations Commission] (other than a question the answer to which might incriminate the person), and

(b) if so requested by the F73[Director of the Workplace Relations Commission], shall sign a declaration of the truth of his or her answers to any such question.

35.—(1) If it appears to the F74[Director of the Workplace Relations Commission] or an F74[adjudication officer] that a person has failed to comply with—

(a) a requirement under section 33(2)(b), or

(b) a requirement under section 34(1),

then, according as the case may require, the F74[Director of the Workplace Relations Commission] or the F74[adjudication officer] may apply to the Circuit Court for an order under this section.

(2) Subject to subsection (3) if, on an application under this section, the Circuit Court is satisfied as to the failure of the person concerned to comply with the requirement in question, the Circuit Court may make an order requiring that person to comply with the requirement.

(3) If, on an application under this section, the Circuit Court is of the opinion that the requirement in question purports to require the person concerned—

(a) to produce any record, book, document or other thing, or

(b) to furnish any information,

for which that person is entitled to claim legal professional privilege, the Circuit Court shall set aside the requirement.

36.—(1) Where, in the course or for the purposes of any investigation, mediation or hearing under this Part, or of any inquiry under Part V of the Employment Equality Act, 1998, any person discloses information to the Authority, the F75[Director of the Workplace Relations Commission] or any other person entitled to obtain it, the disclosure shall not give rise to any liability (in contract, tort or otherwise) on the part of the person making it.

(2) No information furnished to or otherwise acquired by the Authority, the F75[Director of the Workplace Relations Commission] or any other person by virtue of sections 33 to 35, or otherwise in the course or for the purposes of any investigation, mediation, hearing or inquiry aforesaid, shall be published or otherwise disclosed except—

(a) for the purposes of such an investigation, mediation, hearing or inquiry,

(b) on the order of the High Court or the Circuit Court,

(c) with the consent of the person furnishing the information and of any other person to whom the information may relate,

(d) in a decision of the F75[Director of the Workplace Relations Commission] published or made available under section 30 and to which the disclosure of the information is relevant, or

(e) for the purposes of an application under section 35.

(3) In this section “information” includes any record, book, document or other thing in which the information is contained.

(4) A person who discloses information in contravention of subsection (2) shall be guilty of an offence.

37.—(1) A person who—

(a) obstructs or impedes the F76[Director of the Workplace Relations Commission] or an F76[adjudication officer] in the exercise of powers under this Part, or

(b) fails to comply with a requirement of the F76[Director of the Workplace Relations Commission] or an F76[adjudication officer] given under this Part,

shall be guilty of an offence.

(2) A reference in subsection (1) to an F76[adjudication officer] includes a reference to a person authorised as described in the definition of “designated officer” in section 33(1).

37A.—(1) Without prejudice to section 37, the F78[Director of the Workplace Relations Commission] may, if of opinion that a person is obstructing or impeding an investigation, order that the person pay to another person a specified amount in respect of the travelling or other expenses incurred by that other person in connection with the investigation.

(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1), expenses shall not be payable in respect of the attendance at the investigation of any person representing a complainant or respondent.

(3) The amount of any expenses ordered to be paid under this section may be recovered as a simple contract debt.]

38.—(1) Where a case is referred to the F79[Director of the Workplace Relations Commission] and, at any time after the expiry of one year from the date of the reference, it appears to the F79[Director of the Workplace Relations Commission] that the complainant has not pursued, or has ceased to pursue, the reference, the F79[Director of the Workplace Relations Commission] may dismiss the reference.

(2) As soon as practicable after dismissing a reference, the F79[Director of the Workplace Relations Commission] shall give notice in writing of that fact to the complainant and the respondent.

(3) Where a reference is dismissed under this section, no further proceedings may be taken in relation to that reference, but nothing in this section prevents a person from making a further reference in relation to the same matter (subject to any applicable time limit).

38A.—(1) Where in any proceedings facts are established by or on behalf of a person from which it may be presumed that prohibited conduct has occurred in relation to him or her, it is for the respondent to prove the contrary.

(2) This section is without prejudice to any other enactment or rule of law in relation to the burden of proof in any proceedings which may be more favourable to the person.

(3) Where, in any proceedings arising from a reference of a matter by the Authority to the F81[Director of the Workplace Relations Commission] under section 23(1), facts are established by or on behalf of the Authority from which it may be presumed that prohibited conduct or a contravention mentioned in that provision has occurred, it is for the respondent to prove the contrary.]

39.—F82[…]

40.—Any expenses incurred in the administration of this Act shall, to such extent as may be sanctioned by the Minister for Finance, be paid out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas.

41.—(1) The F83[Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation] may make regulations for the purpose of giving effect to this Act including regulations prescribing forms and the information to be contained in any notice to be used for any purpose under this Act.

(2) The F83[Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation] may by regulations specify, in cases where provision is not otherwise made in that behalf by regulations under this Act or the Employment Equality Act, 1998—

(a) procedures to be followed by the F84[Director of the Workplace Relations Commission] or, as the case may be, the Labour Court, in carrying out functions under this Act or the Employment Equality Act, 1998, and

(b) time limits applicable to the carrying out of such functions, including procedures for extending those limits in certain circumstances.

but before making any such regulations the F83[Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation]F85[shall consult with the Authority and the F84[Director of the Workplace Relations Commission]].

F86[(2A) F87[…]]

(3) Every regulation made under this Act shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas as soon as practicable after it is made and, if a resolution annulling the regulation is passed by either House within the next 21 days on which that House has sat after the regulation is laid before it, the regulation shall be annulled accordingly, but without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under it.

(4) Any regulation made under this Act may contain such consequential, supplementary and ancillary provisions as the F83[Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation] considers necessary or expedient.

42.—(1) Anything done by a person in the course of his or her employment shall, in any proceedings brought under this Act, be treated for the purposes of this Act as done also by that person’s employer, whether or not it was done with the employe’s knowledge or approval.

(2) Anything done by a person as agent for another person, with the authority (whether express or implied and whether precedent or subsequent) of that other person shall, in any proceedings brought under this Act, be treated for the purposes of this Act as done also by that other person.

(3) In proceedings brought under this Act against an employer in respect of an act alleged to have been done by an employee of the employer, it shall be a defence for the employer to prove that the employer took such steps as were reasonably practicable to prevent the employee—

(a) from doing that act, or

(b) from doing in the course of his or her employment acts of that description.

43.—(1) A person guilty of an offence under any provision of this Act shall be liable—

(a) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding £1,500 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or both, or

(b) on conviction on indictment, to a fine not exceeding £25,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or both.

(2) If the contravention in respect of which a person is convicted of an offence under any provision of this Act is continued after the conviction, the person shall be guilty of a further offence on every day on which the contravention continues and for each such offence shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £250 or, on conviction on indictment, to a fine not exceeding £1,500.

44.—F88[(1) Summary proceedings for an offence under this Act may be brought and prosecuted by the Workplace Relations Commission or the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission.]

F88[(2) Where an offence under this Act is committed by a body corporate and is proved to have been so committed with the consent or connivance of any person, being a director, manager, secretary or other officer of the body corporate, or a person who was purporting to act in any such capacity, that person shall, as well as the body corporate, be guilty of an offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished as if he or she were guilty of the first-mentioned offence.]

(3) F89[…]

(4) Notwithstanding section 10(4) of the Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act, 1851, summary proceedings for an offence under any provision of this Act may be instituted within 12 months from the date of the offence.

45.— The jurisdiction conferred on the Circuit Court or District Court in proceedings under this Act shall be exercised by a judge of that Court for the time being assigned to the circuit or, as the case may be, the district in which the defendant ordinarily resides or carries on any profession, business or occupation.

46.—(1) The provisions of this Act shall extend to and apply in respect of any ship or aircraft registered in the State that is operated by a person who has a principal place of business or ordinary place of residence in the State, whether or not the ship or aircraft is outside the State.

(2) An act which—

(a) is done on or in respect of such a ship or aircraft while subject to the jurisdiction of a country outside the State, and

(b) is required to be done to comply with the law of that country,

shall not constitute discrimination for the purposes of this Act.

47.—The Employment Equality Act, 1998, is hereby amended by the insertion of the following section after section 105:

48.—This Act shall come into operation on such day as may be fixed by order made by the Minister, and different days may be so fixed for different provisions and for different purposes.