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Number 8 of 2000
EQUAL STATUS ACT, 2000
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
Preliminary
Section | |
1. | |
2. | |
3. | |
4. |
Discrimination and Related Activities
5. | |
6. | |
7. | |
8. | |
9. | |
10. | |
11. | |
12. | |
13. | |
14. | |
15. | |
16. | |
17. | |
18. | |
19. |
Enforcement
20. | |
21. | |
22. | |
23. | |
24. | |
25. | |
26. | |
27. | |
28. | |
29. | |
30. | |
31. | |
32. | |
33. | |
34. | |
35. | |
36. | |
37. | |
38. |
Equality Authority
39. |
General
40. | |
41. | |
42. | |
43. | |
44. | |
45. | |
46. | |
47. | |
48. |
Amendment of Employment Equality Act, 1998
Acts Referred to | ||
Anti-Discrimination (Pay) Act, 1974 | ||
Child Care Act, 1991 | ||
Courts Act, 1981 | ||
Education Act, 1998 | ||
Employment Equality Act, 1977 | ||
Employment Equality Act, 1998 | ||
Housing Acts, 1966 to 1998 | ||
Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1992 | ||
Licensing Acts, 1833 to 1999 | ||
Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Acts, 1968 to 1992 | ||
Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act, 1851 | 14 & 15 Vict., c.9 | |
Refugee Act, 1996 | ||
Registration of Clubs Acts, 1904 to 1999 | ||
Road Transport Act, 1932 | ||
Road Transport Act, 1933 | ||
Roads Act, 1993 | ||
Transport Act, 1958 | ||
Worker Protection (Regular Part-Time Employees) Act, 1991 | ||
Number 8 of 2000
EQUAL STATUS ACT, 2000
PART I
Preliminary
Short title.
1.— This Act may be cited as the Equal Status Act, 2000.
Interpretation.
2.—(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires—
“Authority” means the Equality Authority;
“Director” means the Director of Equality Investigations appointed under section 75(1) of the Employment Equality Act, 1998;
“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);
“discriminatory grounds” has the meaning given by section 3(2);
“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;
“goods” means any articles of movable property;
“marital status” means being single, married, separated, divorced or widowed;
“the Minister” means the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform;
“near relative” means a spouse, 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;
“proceedings”, when used without qualification, includes any referral, mediation or investigation under Part III but does not include criminal proceedings 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;
“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.
Discrimination (general).
3.—(1) For the purposes of this Act, discrimination shall be taken to occur where—
(a) on any of the grounds specified in subsection (2) (in this Act referred to as “the discriminatory grounds”) which exists at present or previously existed but no longer exists or may exist in the future, or which is imputed to the person concerned, a person is treated less favourably than another person is, has been or would be treated,
(b) (i) a person who is associated with another person is treated, by virtue of that association, less favourably than a person who is not so associated is, has been or would be treated, and
(ii) similar treatment of that person on any of the discriminatory grounds would, by virtue of paragraph (a), constitute discrimination,
or
(c) (i) a person is in a category of persons who share a common characteristic by reason of which discrimination may, by virtue of paragraph (a), occur in respect of those persons,
(ii) the person is obliged by the provider of a service (within the meaning of section 4(6)) to comply with a condition (whether in the nature of a requirement, practice or otherwise) but is unable to do so,
(iii) substantially more people outside the category than within it are able to comply with the condition, and
(iv) the obligation to comply with the condition cannot be justified as being reasonable in all the circumstances of the case.
(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 marital status (the “marital 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 Director 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”).
(3) Treating a person who has not attained the age of 18 years less favourably or more favourably than another, whatever that other person's age, shall not be regarded as discrimination on the age 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).
Discrimination on ground of disability.
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.
PART II
Discrimination And Related Activities
Disposal of goods and provision of services.
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) Subsection (1) does 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 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,
(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.
Disposal of premises and provision of accommodation.
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) providing accommodation or any services or amenities related to accommodation or ceasing to provide accommodation or any such services or amenities.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply in respect of—
(a) the disposal of any estate or interest in premises by will or gift,
(b) the disposal otherwise of such an estate or interest where—
(i) the person making the disposal or another person who has an estate or interest in the premises or a person who is a near relative of either of them intends to continue to reside, or in the immediate future to take up residence, in the premises or a part thereof, and
(ii) the premises in question are small premises,
(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,
(d) the provision of accommodation in premises where—
(i) the person providing the accommodation or a person who is a near relative of that person intends to continue to reside, or in the immediate future to take up residence, in the premises or a part thereof, and
(ii) the premises in question are small premises,
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) Premises shall be treated for the purposes of paragraphs (b) and (d) of subsection (2) as small premises if—
(a) in the case of premises comprising residential accommodation for more than one household, there is not normally accommodation in the premises for more than three households, or
(b) in any other case, there is not normally residential accommodation in the premises for more than six persons in addition to a person mentioned in those paragraphs and any persons residing with that person.
(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, marital status, disability, age or membership of the Traveller community.
Educational establishments.
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—
(I) fees for admission or attendance by persons who are nationals of a member state of the European Union 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.
Discriminating clubs.
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.
Non-discriminating clubs.
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, marital 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.
Further provision in relation to discriminating clubs.
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
Sexual and other harassment.
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.
(4) Sexual harassment takes place where a person—
(a) subjects another person (“the victim”) to an act of physical intimacy,
(b) requests sexual favours from the victim, or
(c) subjects the victim to any act or conduct with sexual connotations, including spoken words, gestures or the production, display or circulation of written words, pictures or other material,
where—
(i) the act, request or conduct is unwelcome to the victim and could reasonably be regarded as offensive, humiliating or intimidating to him or her, or
(ii) the victim is treated differently by reason of his or her rejection of or submission to, as the case may be, the act, request or conduct or it could reasonably be anticipated that the victim would be so treated.
(5) Harassment takes place where a person subjects another person (“the victim”) to any unwelcome act, request or conduct, including spoken words, gestures or the production, display or circulation of written words, pictures or other material, which in respect of the victim is based on any discriminatory ground and which could reasonably be regarded as offensive, humiliating or intimidating to him or her.
Prohibited advertising.
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.
Procurement of Prohibited conduct.
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.
Certain measures or activities not prohibited.
14.— 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,
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 who do not have those special needs.
Certain activities not discrimination.
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.
Other non-discriminatory activities.
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.
Regulations relating to vehicle equipment.
17.—(1) The Minister may, with the agreement of the Minister for Public Enterprise, make regulations requiring that new road or rail passenger vehicles which—
(a) are purchased or leased by an operator of a passenger road service or passenger rail service, and
(b) are to be used for the purposes of either such service,
shall be equipped so as to be readily accessible to and usable by persons with a disability.
(2) Regulations under subsection (1) shall not apply to an operator whose principal place of business is outside the State.
(3) Regulations under subsection (1) may be of general application or may be made in respect of any category of operator or vehicle and may specify—
(a) the number or proportion of an operator's vehicles, or any category thereof, to which the regulations apply,
(b) when the regulations come into effect in respect of an operator's vehicles or any category thereof, and
(c) the terms and conditions to which an operator shall be subject in order for the Minister to ascertain whether the operator is complying with the regulations.
(4) In subsection (1) “operator of a passenger road service” an operator of a passenger road service, within the meaning of section 2 of the Road Transport Act, 1932, as amended by section 66 of the Road Transport Act, 1933, including an operator who is, by virtue of the Transport Act, 1958, exempt from the requirement to hold a passenger licence under the first-mentioned Act.
Regulations relating to station equipment.
18.—(1) The Minister may, with the agreement of the Minister for Public Enterprise, make regulations requiring operators of bus and rail stations to provide facilities at those stations so that they are readily accessible to and usable by persons with a disability.
(2) In subsection (1) “stations” does not include any premises at those stations that are not normally used by bus or rail passengers.
(3) Regulations under this section may be of general application or may be made in respect of any category of operator or station and may specify—
(a) the bus or rail stations of an operator, or the number or proportion of an operator's stations or any category thereof, to which the regulations apply,
(b) when the regulations come into effect in respect of an operator's stations or category of stations, and
(c) the terms and conditions to which an operator shall be subject in order for the Minister to ascertain whether the operator is complying with the regulations.
Provision of kerb ramps, etc.
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.
PART III
Enforcement
Definitions.
20.— In this Part, unless the context otherwise requires—
“complainant” means a person referred to in section 21(1);
“equality mediation officer” and “equality officer” shall be construed in accordance with Part VII of the Employment Equality Act, 1998;
“respondent” means a person who is alleged by a complainant in a case under section 21(1) to have engaged in prohibited conduct.
Redress in respect of 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 Director.
(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, to seek redress by referring the case to the Director,
and
(b) may in that notification, with a view to assisting the complainant in deciding whether to refer the case to the Director, 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.
(3) If, on application by the complainant, the Director is satisfied—
(a) that exceptional circumstances prevented the complainant from notifying the respondent in accordance with subsection (2), and
(b) that it is just and equitable, having regard to the nature of the alleged conduct and to any other relevant circumstances, that the period for doing so should be extended beyond the period of 2 months provided for in that subsection,
the Director may direct that, in relation to that case, 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; and where such a direction is given, this Part shall have effect accordingly.
(4) The Director shall not investigate a case unless he or she 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).
(6) Subject to subsection (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.
(7) If, on application by the complainant, the Director is satisfied that exceptional circumstances prevented the complainant's case from being referred within the time limit specified in subsection (6)—
(a) the Director may direct that, in relation to that case, subsection (6) 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
(b) where such a direction is given, this Part shall have effect accordingly.
(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.
Dismissal of claims.
22.— The Director may dismiss a claim at any stage in the investigation if he or she is of opinion that the claim has been made in bad faith or is frivolous or vexatious or relates to a trivial matter.
References of certain matters to Director.
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 Director.
(2) Where a matter is referred to the Director 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 Director 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 Director, 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.
Mediation.
24.—(1) Subject to subsection (2), if at any time after a case has been referred to the Director under section 21 it appears to the Director that the case is one which could be resolved by mediation, the Director shall refer the case for mediation to an equality mediation officer.
(2) If the complainant or the respondent objects to a case being dealt with by way of mediation, the Director 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 equality 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 equality 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 Director.
(5) If, after a case has been referred to an equality mediation officer, it appears to the equality 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 case,
(b) within 28 days from the issue of that notice the complainant makes an application to the Director for the resumption of the hearing of the case, and
(c) a copy of that notice accompanies the application under paragraph (b),
the Director shall deal with the case in accordance with section 25.
Investigation by Director.
25.—(1) Where a case which has been referred to the Director 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 Director shall investigate the case and hear all persons appearing to the Director to be interested and desiring to be heard.
(2) An investigation under this section shall be held in private.
(3) The Minister may by regulations specify—
(a) procedures to be followed by the Director 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 Director and the Authority.
(4) At the conclusion of an investigation under this section the Director 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.
Inferences from failure to supply information, etc.
26.—If, in the course of an investigation under section 25, it appears to the Director—
(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 Director,
the Director 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).
Redress which may be ordered.
27.—(1) Subject to this section, the types of redress for which a decision of the Director 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 discrimination; 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 Director 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.
Appeal against decision of Director.
28.—(1) Not later than 42 days from the date of a decision of the Director 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 Director).
(3) No further appeal lies, other than an appeal to the High Court on a point of law.
Form and contents of decision.
29.—(1) Every decision of the Director under this Part shall be in writing and—
(a) if the Director thinks fit, or
(b) if any of the parties so requests,
shall include a statement of the reasons why the Director reached the decision.
(2) By notice in writing to the complainant and the respondent the Director 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).
Supply and publication of decision.
30.—(1) A copy of every decision of the Director under this Part shall be given to the complainant and the respondent and every such decision shall be published and a copy thereof made available for inspection at the office of the Director.
(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.
Enforcement of decisions and mediated settlements.
31.—(1) If a person who is bound by the terms of a decision of the Director under this Part fails to comply with those terms, then, on an application under this section, the Circuit Court shall, subject to section 32, make an order directing the person affected to carry out the decision in accordance with its terms.
(2) If a person who is a party to a settlement to which section 24 applied fails to give effect, in whole or in part, to the terms of the settlement, then, on an application under this section, the Circuit Court may make an order directing that person to carry out those terms or, as the case may be, the part of those terms to which the application relates, but the Circuit Court shall not, by virtue of this subsection, direct any person to pay any sum or do any other thing which (had the matter been dealt with otherwise than by mediation) could not have been provided for by way of redress under section 27.
(3) An application under this section may not be made within 42 days of the date of the decision or the date of the written record of the settlement, as the case may be.
(4) An application under this section may be made—
(a) by the complainant, or
(b) where the Authority is not the complainant and it considers that the decision or settlement is unlikely to be implemented without its intervention, by the Authority with the consent of the complainant.
(5) On an application under this section, the Circuit Court shall exercise its functions under subsection (1) or (2) on being satisfied of—
(a) the existence and terms of the decision or settlement, and
(b) the failure by the person affected to comply with those terms.
(6) Without prejudice to the power of the Circuit Court to make an order for costs in favour of the complainant or the person affected, where an application is made by the Authority by virtue of subsection (4), the costs of the Authority may be awarded by the Circuit Court.
Additional powers of Circuit Court on enforcement.
32.—(1) Where the Circuit Court makes an order under section 31(1), it may, if in all the circumstances it considers it appropriate to do so, include in the order the additional direction referred to in subsection (2).
(2) Where the order under section 31(1) relates to a decision requiring the payment of compensation to any person, the order may direct the respondent concerned to pay interest on the compensation at the rate referred to in section 22 of the Courts Act, 1981, in respect of the whole or any part of the period ending on the date of the order and beginning—
(a) 42 days after the date of the decision, or
(b) if it is later, on the date on which the compensation was required to be paid under the decision.
Powers to enter premises, obtain information, etc.
33.—(1) In this section—
“designated officer” means the Director, an equality officer or a person authorised in that behalf by the Director;
“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 Director 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.
Requirement to provide information.
34.—(1) For the purpose of enabling the Director to exercise his or her functions under this Part, the Director—
(a) may require a person who, in the opinion of the Director 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 Director, and
(b) where appropriate, may require such person to attend before the Director 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 Director under subsection (1)(b)—
(a) shall answer fully and truthfully any question put to him or her by the Director (other than a question the answer to which might incriminate the person), and
(b) if so requested by the Director, shall sign a declaration of the truth of his or her answers to any such question.
Failure to supply documents, information, etc.
35.—(1) If it appears to the Director or an equality 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 Director or the equality 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.
Supplementary provisions as to information.
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 Director 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 Director 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 Director 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.
Obstruction of Director, etc.
37.—(1) A person who—
(a) obstructs or impedes the Director or an equality officer in the exercise of powers under this Part, or
(b) fails to comply with a requirement of the Director or an equality officer given under this Part,
shall be guilty of an offence.
(2) A reference in subsection (1) to an equality officer includes a reference to a person authorised as described in the definition of “designated officer” in section 33(1).
Dismissal of cases not pursued.
38.—(1) Where a case is referred to the Director and, at any time after the expiry of one year from the date of the reference, it appears to the Director that the complainant has not pursued, or has ceased to pursue, the reference, the Director may dismiss the reference.
(2) As soon as practicable after dismissing a reference, the Director 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).
PART IV
Equality Authority
Additional functions of Authority.
39.—The Authority shall have, in addition to the functions assigned to it by any other provision of this Act or by any other Act, the following general functions:
(a) to work towards the elimination of prohibited conduct;
(b) to promote eqality of opportunity in relation to the matters to which this Act applies; and
(c) to provide information to the public on and to keep under review the working of this Act and, whenever the Authority thinks it necessary, to make proposals to the Minister for its amendment;
and accordingly the Employment Equality Act, 1998, shall apply and have effect with the amendments specified in the Schedule to this Act.
PART V
General
Expenses.
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.
Regulations.
41.—(1) The Minister 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 Minister 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 Director 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 Minister shall—
(i) in the case of any such regulations relating to the functions of the Labour Court, consult with the Authority and the Labour Court and obtain the consent of the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, and
(ii) in any other case, consult with the Authority and the Director.
(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 Minister considers necessary or expedient.
Vicarious liability.
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 employer'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.
Offences generally.
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.
Offence-related provisions.
44.—(1) Summary proceedings for an offence under any provision of this Act may be instituted by the Minister or the Authority.
(2) Where an offence under this Act which is committed by a body corporate is proved to have been committed with the consent or connivance of, or to be attributable to any neglect on the part of, any person who, when the offence was committed, was a director, manager, secretary or other similar officer of the body corporate or a person who was purporting to act in any such capacity, that person, as well as the body corporate, shall be guilty of an offence and be liable to be proceeded against and punished as if guilty of the offence committed by the body corporate.
(3) Where the affairs of a body corporate are managed by its members, subsection (2) applies as if the reference to a director in that subsection were a reference to a member of the body corporate.
(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.
Court jurisdiction.
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.
Application of Act.
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.
Amendment of Employment Equality Act, 1998.
47.—The Employment Equality Act, 1998, is hereby amended by the insertion of the following section after section 105:
“Transitional provision. | 106.—(1) This section applies to a claim for redress under a repealed enactment— |
(a) which is made on or after the commencement of Part VII (the ‘commencement date’), and | |
(b) which relates— | |
(i) only to conduct before the commencement date, or | |
(ii) to conduct both before and after that date. | |
(2) In this section— | |
‘commencement date’ means the 18th day of October, 1999; | |
‘conduct’ means conduct alleged to have occurred; | |
‘repealed enactment’ means the Anti-Discrimination (Pay) Act, 1974, or the Employment Equality Act, 1977. | |
(3) A claim for redress to which this section applies shall— | |
(a) as regards the substance of the claim— | |
(i) if or in so far as the claim relates to conduct before the commencement date, be dealt with as if the enactment concerned had not been repealed, and | |
(ii) in so far as it may relate to conduct after that date, be dealt with under this Act, | |
and | |
(b) in all other respects, be dealt with as if it were a claim under section 77. | |
(4) For the purposes of subsection (3)— | |
(a) the claim concerned shall be referred or brought to the Director, the Labour Court or the Circuit Court, as appropriate, and | |
(b) Part VII shall apply in relation to it, with the modification that sections 76 and 82 shall not apply in relation to a case referred to in paragraph (a)(i) of that subsection and with any other necessary modifications. | |
(5) A claim for redress under a repealed enactment which is pending on the commencement date shall, if the conduct to which it relates also occurs after that date, be treated as if it were a claim for redress to which this section applies, and accordingly subsections (3) and (4) shall apply in relation to it. | |
(6) A decision or determination on a claim for redress referred to in this section may, and at the request of the claimant shall, where appropriate, specify separate findings in relation to conduct before and after the commencement date. | |
(7) The Director or a person appointed under section 75(4)(a) to be an equality officer may exercise the powers of an equality officer under a repealed enactment. | |
(8) This section shall be deemed to have come into operation on the commencement date.”. |
Commencement.
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.
SCHEDULE
Amendment Of Employment Equality Act, 1998
The Employment Equality Act, 1998, is hereby amended—
(a) in section 2(1) (interpretation), by the insertion—
(i) after the definition of “disability”, of:
“‘discrimination’, in Parts V and VI, includes prohibited conduct within the meaning of the Equal Status Act, 2000, and cognate words shall be construed accordingly;”, and
(ii) after the definition of “trade union”, of:
“‘Traveller community’ means the community of people commonly so called 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;”,
(b) in section 6 (discrimination), by the substitution in subsection (2)(i) of “Traveller” for “traveller” on both occasions where it occurs,
(c) in section 12 (vocational training)—
(i) by the substitution, in the opening words of subsection (7), of “Without prejudice to section 3 of the Refugee Act, 1996, nothing in subsection (1)” for “Nothing in subsection (1)” and “an educational” for “a vocational”,
(ii) by the substitution, in subsection (7)(b), of “considerations, or” for “considerations.”, and
(iii) by the insertion of the following paragraph:
“(c) in the case of a university or other third-level institution, it provides different treatment in the allocation of places on any such course to mature students (within the meaning of the Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Acts, 1968 to 1992).”,
(d) in section 28 (comparators), by the substitution in subsection (1)(h) of “Traveller” for “traveller” on both occasions where it occurs,
(e) in section 33 (positive action permitted), by the substitution in subsection (1)(c) of “Traveller” for “traveller”,
(f) in section 44 (ordinary members of Authority), by the substitution in subsection (1)(c) of “Traveller” for “traveller”,
(g) in section 56 (codes of practice)—
(i) by the substitution of the following paragraphs for paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (1):
“(a) the elimination of discrimination; and
(b) the promotion of equality of opportunity in employment and in relation to the matters to which the Equal Status Act, 2000, applies.”, and
(ii) by the insertion in subsection (4), after “Part VII”, of “or under Part III of the Equal Status Act, 2000”,
(h) in section 59 (obtaining information etc. for purposes of inquiry), by the substitution of the following paragraph for paragraph (b) of subsection (3):
“(b) the Authority believes that a person named in the terms of reference of the inquiry to which the notice relates—
(i) has discriminated or is discriminating,
(ii) has contravened or is contravening section 8(4) or 10(1),
(iii) has failed or is failing to comply with an equality clause or an equal remuneration term, or
(iv) has contravened section 12(1) (prohibited advertising) of the Equal Status Act, 2000.”,
(i) in section 61 (recommendations arising out of and reports of inquiries), by the substitution of the following subsection for subsection (1):
“(1) After it has conducted an inquiry under section 58, or in the course of such an inquiry, the Authority may make to any person, including the Minister, recommendations arising out of the inquiry for the purpose of promoting either or both of the general functions of the Authority specified in paragraphs (a) and (b) of section 39 or, as appropriate, in paragraphs (a) and (b) of section 39 of the Equal Status Act, 2000.”,
(j) in section 62 (non-discrimination notices), by the substitution of the following paragraph for paragraph (b) of subsection (1):
“(b) has contravened or is contravening section 8(4) or 10(1) or section 12(1) of the Equal Status Act, 2000, or”,
(k) in section 63 (appeal against non-discrimination notice)—
(i) by the substitution of the following subsection for subsection (1):
“(1) Subject to subsection (6), a person on whom a non-discrimination notice has been served may appeal to the Labour Court within 42 days of the date of service against the notice or any requirement of the notice.”,
and
(ii) by the addition of the following subsections:
“(6) Where a non-discrimination notice relates to prohibited conduct within the meaning of the Equal Status Act, 2000, or to a contravention of section 12(1) of that Act, the person on whom the notice has been served may appeal to the District Court, and for that purpose references in this section to the Labour Court shall be construed as references to the District Court.
(7) The jurisdiction of the District Court under this section shall be exercised by a judge of that Court for the time being assigned to the district court district in which the person on whom the non-discrimination notice has been served ordinarily resides or carries on any profession, business or occupation.”,
(l) in section 67 (assistance by Authority in connection with certain references), by the substitution of the following subsection for subsection (1):
“(1) A person who considers—
(a) that discrimination has been directed against the person by another person,
(b) that he or she has been adversely affected by the failure or refusal by another person—
(i) to comply with an equality clause or an equal remuneration term,
(ii) to implement a decision, order or determination under this Part or under Part III of the Equal Status Act, 2000, or
(iii) to implement a mediated settlement under section 78 or under section 24 of that Act,
or
(c) that a club referred to in section 8 of that Act is a discriminating club within the meaning of that section,
may make a request to the Authority for assistance in taking proceedings in respect of which redress is provided for under this Act or that Act or, as the case may be, in making an application to the District Court under section 8(3) of that Act.”,
(m) in section 68 (definition (Part VI)), by the deletion of “under section 71(3)” and the substitution of “, or the District Court, under section 71”,
(n) in section 69 (equality reviews and action plans) by—
(i) the deletion in subsection (1)(a) of “in employment”,
(ii) the substitution in subsection (1)(b) of “to that business or those businesses” for “to that employment” and “therein” for “in that employment”,
(iii) the deletion in subsection (2) of “in employment” and the substitution of “therein” for “in that employment”,
(iv) the insertion of the following subsection after subsection (2):
“(2A) An equality review or an equality action plan which relates to matters governed both by this Act and by the Equal Status Act, 2000, shall deal separately with those matters, and the separate portions of the review or plan shall be treated, for the purposes of this Part, as an equality review or an equality action plan.”,
(v) the deletion in subsection (6) of “in an employment”, and
(vi) the substitution of the following subsection for subsection (7):
“(7) For the purposes of this section:
(a) ‘business’ includes—
(i) an activity giving rise to employment, whether or not in the industrial or commercial field and whether or not with a view to profit, and
(ii) subject to clause (II) of this subparagraph, the provision of services by the provider of a service (within the meaning of section 4(6) of the Equal Status Act, 2000), and accordingly this section shall apply in relation to the provision of such services with the modifications that—
(I) the reference in subsection (1)(a) to a particular business shall be construed as including a reference to the provision of particular services, and
(II) the references in subsections (4) and (5) to a business shall be construed as including references to a provider of a service (within the meaning of the said section 4(6), other than paragraph (f) thereof),
and any other necessary modifications;
(b) a ‘group of businesses’ may be defined by reference to geographical location instead of (or as well as) by reference to control or any other factor.”,
(o) in section 70(1)(a) (enforcement powers in respect of equality reviews and action plans) by the insertion of “is” before “required”, and
(p) in section 71 (appeal against substantive notice) by—
(i) the substitution of the following subsection for subsection (1):
“(1) Subject to subsection (6), a person on whom a substantive notice has been served may appeal to the Labour Court within 42 days of the date of service against the notice or any requirement of the notice.”,
and
(ii) the insertion of the following subsections after subsection (5):
“(6) Where a substantive notice concerns an equality review or equality action plan, or a proposed such review or plan, which relates to matters governed by the Equal Status Act, 2000, the person on whom the notice has been served may appeal to the District Court against the notice, and for that purpose references in this section to the Labour Court shall be construed as references to the District Court.
(7) The jurisdiction of the District Court under this section shall be exercised by a judge of that Court for the time being assigned to the district court district in which the person on whom the substantive notice was served ordinarily resides or carries on any profession, business or occupation.”.
Uimhir 8 de 2000
AN tACHT UM STÁDAS COMHIONANN, 2000
[An tiontú oifigiúil]
RIAR NA nALT
Réamhráiteach
Alt | |
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Idirdhealú agus Gníomhaíochtaí Gaolmhara.
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Forfheidhmiú.
20. | |
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33. | |
34. | |
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Údarás Comhionannais.
39. |
Ginearálta.
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44. | |
45. | |
46. | |
47. | |
48. |
Leasú ar an Acht um Chomhionannas Fostaíochta, 1998
Na hAchtanna dá dTagraítear | |
An tAcht um Chúram Leanaí, 1991 | 1991, Uimh. 17 |
Achtanna na dTithe, 1966 go 1998 | |
Acht na dTithe (Forálacha Ilghnéitheacha), 1992 | 1992, Uimh. 18 |
Na hAchtanna Ceadúnúcháin, 1833 go 1999 | |
Na hAchtanna um Údaráis Áitiúla (Deontais Ardoideachais), 1968 go 1992 | |
Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act, 1851 | 14 & 15 Vict., c.9 |
Acht na nDídeanaithe, 1996 | 1996, Uimh. 17 |
Achtanna Clárú na gClubanna, 1904 go 1999 | |
Acht na mBóithre, 1993 | 1993, Uimh. 14 |
An tAcht um Chosaint Oibrithe (Fostaithe Páirtaimseartha Rialta), 1991 | 1991, Uimh. 5 |
Uimhir 8 de 2000
AN tACHT UM STÁDAS COMHIONANN, 2000
[An tiontú oifigiúil]
CUID I
Réamhráiteach
Gearrtheideal.
1.—Féadfar an tAcht um Stádas Comhionann, 2000, a ghairm den Acht seo.
Léiriú.
2.—(1) San Acht seo, mura n-éilíonn an comhthéacs a mhalairt—
ciallaíonn “Údarás” an tÚdarás Comhionannais;
ciallaíonn “Stiúrthóir” an Stiúrthóir Imscrúduithe Comhionannais arna cheapadh nó arna ceapadh faoi alt 75(1) den Acht um Chomhionannas Fostaíochta, 1998;
ciallaíonn “míchumas”—
(a) feidhmeanna coirp nó meabhrach duine a bheith in easnamh go hiomlán nó go páirteach, lena n-áirítear cuid de chorp duine a bheith in easnamh,
(b) orgánaigh atá nó is dóigh a bheidh ina dtrúig ghalair nó thinnis ainsealaigh a bheith sa chorp,
(c) mífheidhmiú, anchuma nó máchailiú cuid de chorp duine,
(d) riocht nó mífheidhmiú ar a bhfuil de thoradh go bhfoghlaimíonn duine ar shlí éagsúil le duine nach bhfuil an riocht nó an mífheidhmiú air nó uirthi, nó
(e) riocht, galar nó tinneas a fhearann ar phróisis smaointe duine, ar aireachtáil na réaltachta ag duine, ar mhothúcháin nó ar bhreithiúnas duine, nó a bhfuil iompar suaite de thoradh air;
ciallaíonn “idirdhealú a dhéanamh” idirdhealú a dhéanamh de réir bhrí alt 3(1) nó 4(1);
tá le “forais idirdhealaitheacha” an bhrí a thugtar le halt 3(2);
ciallaíonn “stádas teaghlaigh” a bheith torrach nó a bheith freagrach—
(a) mar thuismitheoir nó mar dhuine in loco parentis i ndáil le duine nach bhfuil 18 mbliana d'aois slánaithe aige nó aici, nó
(b) mar thuismitheoir nó mar an cúramóir príomha cónaitheach i ndáil le duine ag a bhfuil an aois sin nó atá os cionn na haoise sin agus atá faoi mhíchumas de chineál is cúis le cúram nó tacaíocht a bheith ag teastáil ar bhonn leanúnach, rialta nó minic,
agus, chun críocha mhír (b), is cúramóir príomha cónaitheach i ndáil le duine faoi mhíchumas é nó í cúramóir príomha má tá cónaí ar an gcúramóir príomha leis an duine atá faoin míchumas;
ciallaíonn “earraí” aon bhaill maoine sochorraithe;
ciallaíonn “stádas pósta” a bheith singil, pósta, idirscartha, colscartha nó i mbaintreachas;
ciallaíonn “an tAire” an tAire Dlí agus Cirt, Comhionannais agus Athchóirithe Dlí;
ciallaíonn “garghaol” céile, dírshliochtach, sinsear, deartháir nó deirfiúr;
“duine”, mar a úsáidtear an téarma sin in aon fhoráil nó i ndáil le haon fhoráil den Acht seo lena dtoirmisctear ar an duine sin idirdhealú nó aon ghníomh eile a dhéanamh nó lena gceanglaítear ar dhuine déanamh de réir forála den Acht seo nó rialachán arna ndéanamh faoin Acht seo, folaíonn sé eagraíocht, comhlacht poiblí nó eintiteas eile;
folaíonn “áitreabh” aon mhaoin dhochorraithe;
folaíonn “imeachtaí”, nuair a úsáidtear é gan cháiliú, aon tarchur, idirghabháil nó imscrúdú faoi Chuid III ach ní fholaíonn sé imeachtaí coiriúla faoin Acht seo;
ciallaíonn “iompar toirmiscthe” idirdhealú in aghaidh duine, nó gnéaschiapadh nó ciapadh ar dhuine, nó gnéaschiapadh nó ciapadh ar dhuine a cheadú, de shárú ar an Acht seo;
folaíonn “diúltú” neamhghníomh toiliúil;
folaíonn “creideamh” cúlra nó dearcadh creidimh;
ciallaíonn “seirbhís” seirbhís nó saoráid de chineál ar bith atá ar fáil don phobal i gcoitinne nó do chuid den phobal, agus, gan dochar do ghinearáltacht an mhéid sin roimhe seo, folaíonn sé—
(a) rochtain ar aon áit agus úsáid aon áite,
(b) saoráidí le haghaidh na nithe seo a leanas—
(i) baincéireacht, árachas, deontais, iasachtaí, creidmheas nó maoiniú,
(ii) siamsaíocht, áineas nó úrúchán,
(iii) gníomhaíochtaí cultúir, nó
(iv) iompar nó taisteal,
(c) seirbhís nó saoráid a sholáthraíonn club (cibé acu is club é a shealbhaíonn deimhniú cláraitheachta faoi Achtanna Clárú na gClubanna, 1904 go 1999, nó nach ea) agus atá ar fáil don phobal i gcoitinne nó do chuid den phobal, ar íocaíocht nó gan íocaíocht, agus
(d) seirbhís ghairmiúil nó trádála,
ach ní fholaíonn sé cearta pinsin (de réir bhrí an Achta um Chomhionannas Fostaíochta, 1998) ná seirbhís nó saoráid a bhfuil feidhm ag an Acht sin maidir léi;
ciallaíonn “gnéaschlaonadh” claonadh heitrighnéasach, homaighnéasach nó déghnéasach;
ciallaíonn “Lucht Siúil” an pobal daoine dá ngairtear an Lucht Siúil go coitianta agus a shainaithnítear (acu féin agus ag daoine eile) mar dhaoine ag a bhfuil stair, cultúr agus traidisiúin i bpáirt, lena n-áirítear, go stairiúil, saol fánaíochta ar oileán na hÉireann.
(2) San Acht seo, mura léir a mhalairt a bheith ar intinn—
(a) aon tagairt d'alt nó do Chuid is tagairt í d'alt nó do Chuid den Acht seo,
(b) aon tagairt d'fho-alt, do mhír nó d'fhoroinn eile is tagairt í don fho-alt, don mhír nó don fhoroinn den fhoráil ina bhfuil an tagairt, agus
(c) aon tagairt d'achtachán is tagairt í don achtachán sin arna leasú le haon achtachán eile nó faoi, lena n-áirítear an tAcht seo.
Idirdhealú (ginearálta).
3.—(1) Chun críocha an Achta seo, measfar go dtarlaíonn idirdhealú más rud é—
(a) ar aon cheann de na forais a shonraítear i bhfo-alt (2) (dá ngairtear “na forais idirdhealaitheacha” san Acht seo) atá ann faoi láthair nó a bhí ann cheana ach nach bhfuil ann a thuilleadh, nó a fhéadfaidh a bheith ann amach anseo, nó a chuirtear i leith an duine lena mbaineann, go ndéileáiltear le duine le níos lú fabhair ná mar a dhéileáiltear, mar a déileáladh nó mar a dhéileálfaí le duine eile,
(b) (i) go ndéileáiltear le duine atá bainteach le duine eile, de bhua na bainte sin, le níos lú fabhair ná mar a dhéileáiltear, mar a déileáladh nó mar a dhéileálfaí le duine eile nach bhfuil bainteach amhlaidh, agus
(ii) gurbh idirdhealú, de bhua mhír (a), déileáil dá samhail leis an duine eile sin ar aon fhoras de na forais idirdhealaitheacha,
nó
(c) (i) go bhfuil duine in earnáil daoine a bhfuil sainghné i bpáirt acu agus a bhféadfaidh idirdhealú tarlú dá barr, de bhua mhír (a), i leith na ndaoine sin,
(ii) go bhfuil oibleagáid curtha ar an duine ag soláthraí seirbhíse (de réir bhrí alt 4(6)) déanamh de réir coinníll (de chineál ceanglais, cleachtais nó ar shlí eile) ach nach bhfuil sé nó sí in ann déanamh amhlaidh,
(iii) go bhfuil i bhfad níos mó daoine lasmuigh den earnáil ná laistigh di in ann déanamh de réir an choinníll, agus
(iv) nach féidir an oibleagáid déanamh de réir an choinníll a chosaint mar ní réasúnach in imthosca uile an cháis.
(2) Amhail idir aon bheirt, is iad na forais idirdhealaitheacha (mar aon le tuairiscí na bhforas sin chun críocha an Achta seo):
(a) gur fear é duine acu agus gur bean í an duine eile (an “foras inscne”),
(b) nach ionann stádas pósta dóibh (an “foras stádais pósta”),
(c) go bhfuil stádas teaghlaigh ag duine acu agus nach bhfuil ag an duine eile nó nach ionann an stádas teaghlaigh atá ag duine amháin agus an stádas teaghlaigh atá ag an duine eile (an “foras stádais teaghlaigh”),
(d) nach ionann gnéaschlaonadh dóibh (an “foras gnéaschlaonta”),
(e) nach ionann an creideamh atá ag duine acu agus an creideamh atá ag an duine eile, nó go bhfuil creideamh ag duine acu agus nach bhfuil ag an duine eile (an “foras creidimh”),
(f) faoi réir fho-alt (3), nach ionann aois dóibh (an “foras aoise”),
(g) gur duine faoi mhíchumas duine acu agus nach amhlaidh don duine eile nó gur duine atá faoi mhíchumas eile é nó í an duine eile (an “foras míchumais”),
(h) nach ionann cine, dath, náisiúntacht nó bunadh eitneach nó náisiúnta dóibh (an “foras cine”),
(i) gur duine den Lucht Siúil duine acu agus nach amhlaidh don duine eile (an “foras Lucht Siúil”),
(j) go bhfuil duine amháin—
(i) tar éis iarratas a dhéanamh de mheon macánta ar aon chinneadh nó sásamh dá bhforáiltear i gCuid II nó III,
(ii) tar éis freastal mar fhinné os comhair an Údaráis, an Stiúrthóra nó cúirte i dtaca le haon fhiosrúchán nó imeachtaí faoin Acht seo,
(iii) tar éis fianaise a thabhairt in aon imeachtaí coiriúla faoin Acht seo,
(iv) tar éis, trí mhodhanna dleathacha, cur i gcoinne gnímh atá neamhdhleathach faoin Acht seo, nó
(v) tar éis fógra a thabhairt faoi é a bheith beartaithe aon cheann de na gníomhartha a shonraítear i bhfomhíreanna (i) go (iv) a dhéanamh,
agus nach bhfuil an duine eile tar éis déanamh amhlaidh (an “foras íospartha”).
(3) Ní mheasfar gur idirdhealú ar an bhforas aoise é má dhéileáiltear le duine nach bhfuil 18 mbliana d'aois slánaithe aige nó aici le níos lú fabhair nó le níos mó fabhair ná mar a dhéileáiltear le duine eile, is cuma cén aois atá ag an duine eile sin.
(4) Déanfaidh an tAire, tráth nach déanaí ná dhá bhliain tar éis thosach feidhme an ailt seo, oibriú an Achta seo a athbhreithniú chun a mheasúnú an gá cur leis na forais idirdhealaitheacha a shonraítear i bhfo-alt (2).
Idirdhealú ar fhoras míchumais.
4.—(1) Chun críocha an Achta seo, folaíonn idirdhealú diúltú nó mainneachtain ag soláthraí seirbhíse gach ní réasúnach a dhéanamh chun freastal ar riachtanais duine atá faoi mhíchumas trí chóir speisialta nó trí shaoráidí speisialta a sholáthar, más rud é, d'uireasa na córa nó na saoráidí speisialta sin, nárbh fhéidir leis an duine féin nó gur rídheacair don duine féin leas a bhaint as an tseirbhís.
(2) Ní mheasfar diúltú nó mainneachtain an chóir speisialta nó na saoráidí speisialta dá dtagraíonn fo-alt (1) a sholáthar a bheith réasúnach mura dtitfeadh costas, seachas costas ainmniúil, ar sholáthraí na seirbhíse atá i gceist mar gheall ar an soláthar sin.
(3) Ní idirdhealú diúltú nó mainneachtain an chóir nó na saoráidí speisialta dá dtagraíonn fo-alt (1) a sholáthar, más rud é, de bhua forála eile den Acht seo, nárbh idirdhealú diúltú nó mainneachtain an tseirbhís atá i gceist a sholáthar don duine sin.
(4) I gcás go bhfuil duine faoi mhíchumas a d'fhéadfadh, sna himthosca, a bheith ina thrúig le dochar don duine nó do dhaoine eile, ní idirdhealú déileáil leis an duine ar bhealach éagsúil a mhéid is gá go réasúnach chun an dochar sin a chosc.
(5) Ní dochar an t-alt seo d'fhorálacha ailt 7(2)(a), 9(a) agus 15(2)(g) den Acht Oideachais, 1998, a mhéid a bhaineann siad le feidhmeanna an Aire Oideachais agus Eolaíochta, scoileanna aitheanta agus boird bhainistíochta maidir le mic léinn atá faoi mhíchumas.
(6) San alt seo—
ciallaíonn “soláthraí seirbhíse”—
(a) an duine atá ag diúscairt earraí a bhfuil feidhm ag alt 5(1) maidir leo,
(b) an duine atá freagrach as seirbhís a sholáthar a bhfuil feidhm ag alt 5(1) maidir léi,
(c) an duine atá ag diúscairt aon eastáit nó leasa in áitreabh a bhfuil feidhm ag alt 6(1)(a) maidir leis,
(d) an duine atá freagrach as soláthar cóiríochta nó aon seirbhísí nó taitneamhachtaí gaolmhara eile a bhfuil feidhm ag alt 6(1)(c) maidir leo,
(e) bunachas oideachais de réir bhrí fho-alt (1) d'alt 7 i ndáil le haon cheann de na nithe dá dtagraítear i bhfo-alt (2) den alt sin, nó
(f) club de réir bhrí alt 8(1) maidir le ligean isteach i gcomhaltas nó le seirbhís a thairgtear dá chomhaltaí,
de réir mar a bheidh, agus déanfar “seirbhís” a fhorléiriú dá réir sin;
folaíonn “a sholáthar”, i ndáil leis an gcóir speisialta nó leis na saoráidí speisialta dá dtagraíonn fo-alt (1), socrú a dhéanamh le haghaidh na córa sin nó na saoráidí sin, nó an chóir sin nó na saoráidí sin a cheadú, agus déanfar focail ghaolmhara a fhorléiriú dá réir sin.
CUID II
Idirdhealú agus Gníomhaíochtaí Gaolmhara
Diúscairt earraí agus soláthar seirbhísí.
5.—(1) Ní dhéanfaidh duine idirdhealú maidir le diúscairt earraí don phobal i gcoitinne nó do chuid den phobal ná maidir le soláthar seirbhíse, cibé acu is ar comaoin an diúscairt nó an soláthar nó ar shlí eile agus cibé acu is féidir nó nach féidir ach le cuid den phobal leas a bhaint as an tseirbhís.
(2) Níl feidhm ag fo-alt (1)—
(a) maidir le gníomhaíocht dá dtagraítear in alt 7(2),
(b) maidir le seirbhís atá gaolmhar le ní dá bhforáiltear faoi alt 6, nó seirbhís a thairgeann club a bhfuil feidhm ag alt 8 maidir leis dá chomhaltaí,
(c) maidir le difríochtaí sa chaoi a ndéileáiltear le daoine ar an bhforas inscne i ndáil le seirbhísí de chineál aeistéitiúil, de chineál cosmaideach nó de chineál dá shamhail, i gcás go n-éilíonn na seirbhísí teagmháil fhisiceach idir an soláthraí seirbhíse agus an faighteoir,
(d) maidir le difríochtaí sa chaoi a ndéileáiltear le daoine i ndáil le blianachtaí, pinsin, polasaithe árachais nó aon nithe eile a bhaineann le measúnú a dhéanamh ar bhaol más rud é, maidir leis an déileáil—
(i) go ndéantar í faoi threoir—
(I) sonraí achtúireacha nó sonraí staidrimh a bheidh faighte ó fhoinse ar réasúnach dul ar a hiontaoibh, nó
(II) tosca iomchuí eile frithghealltanais nó tráchtála,
agus
(ii) go bhfuil sí réasúnach ag féachaint do na sonraí nó do thosca iomchuí eile,
(e) maidir le difríochtaí sa chaoi a ndéileáiltear le daoine ar an bhforas creidimh i ndáil le hearraí nó seirbhísí a sholáthraítear chun críche creidimh,
(f) maidir le difríochtaí sa chaoi a ndéileáiltear le daoine ar an bhforas inscne, aoise nó míchumais nó ar bhonn náisiúntachta nó bunaidh náisiúnta i ndáil le soláthar nó eagrú saoráide spóirt nó imeachta spóirt a mhéid atá gá go réasúnach leis na difríochtaí ag féachaint do chineál na saoráide nó an imeachta agus atá siad ábhartha i leith chuspóir na saoráide nó an imeachta,
(g) maidir le difríochtaí sa chaoi a ndéileáiltear le daoine ar an bhforas inscne i gcás gur féidir a bheith ag súil leis go réasúnach go mbeidh aiféaltas nó sárú ar phríobháideacht ina thoradh ar dhuine d'inscne eile a bheith i láthair,
(h) maidir le difríochtaí sa chaoi a ndéileáiltear le daoine in earnáil daoine maidir le seirbhísí arb é an príomhchuspóir atá lena soláthar, chun críche bona fide agus ar mhodh bona fide, leasanna speisialta daoine san earnáil sin a chur chun cinn a mhéid atá gá go réasúnach leis na difríochtaí déileála chun na leasanna speisialta sin a chur chun cinn,
(i) maidir le difríochtaí sa chaoi a ndéileáiltear le daoine ar an bhforas inscne, aoise nó míchumais nó ar an bhforas cine, a theastaíonn go réasúnach ar chúiseanna fíre, aeistéitice, traidisiúin nó nóis i dtaca le taibhiú drámaíochta nó siamsaíocht eile,
(j) maidir le ceanglas aoise i leith duine a bheith ina thuismitheoir uchtála nó altrama nó ina tuismitheoir uchtála nó altrama, i gcás go bhfuil an ceanglas réasúnach ag féachaint do riachtanais an linbh nó na leanaí lena mbaineann,
(k) maidir le diúscairt earraí le huacht nó le bronntanas, nó
(l) maidir le difríochtaí, nach bhforáiltear dóibh go sonrach ar shlí eile san alt seo, sa chaoi a ndéileáiltear le daoine maidir le diúscairt earraí, nó soláthar seirbhíse, ar féidir a mheas ina leith go réasúnach gur earraí iad nó gur seirbhís í nach n-oireann ach do riachtanais daoine áirithe.
Diúscairt áitreabh agus soláthar cóiríochta.
6.—(1) Ní dhéanfaidh duine idirdhealú le linn na nithe seo a leanas a dhéanamh—
(a) aon eastát nó leas in áitreabh a dhiúscairt,
(b) aon tionóntacht nó leas eile in áitreabh a fhoirceannadh, nó
(c) cóiríocht, nó aon seirbhísí nó taitneamhachtaí a bhaineann le cóiríocht, a sholáthar, nó scor de chóiríocht, nó d'aon seirbhísí nó taitneamhachtaí den sórt sin, a sholáthar.
(2) Níl feidhm ag fo-alt (1)—
(a) maidir le diúscairt aon eastáit nó leasa in aon áitreabh le huacht nó le bronntanas,
(b) maidir le diúscairt eastáit nó leasa den sórt sin ar shlí eile más rud é—
(i) i dtaca leis an duine atá ag déanamh na diúscartha nó duine eile a bhfuil eastát nó leas san áitreabh aige nó aici nó duine is garghaol le ceachtar acu, go mbeartaíonn sé nó sí leanúint de bheith ina chónaí nó ina cónaí, nó dul chun cónaithe sa neastodhchaí, san áitreabh nó i gcuid den áitreabh, agus
(ii) gur áitreabh beag an t-áitreabh atá i gceist,
(c) maidir le haon diúscairt eastáit nó leasa den sórt sin, nó aon soláthar cóiríochta nó aon soláthar seirbhísí nó taitneamhachtaí a bhaineann le cóiríocht, nach bhfuil ar fáil don phobal i gcoitinne nó do chuid den phobal,
(d) maidir le soláthar cóiríochta in áitreabh más rud é—
(i) i dtaca leis an duine atá ag soláthar na cóiríochta nó le duine is garghaol leis an duine sin, go mbeartaíonn sé nó sí leanúint de bheith ina chónaí nó ina cónaí, nó dul chun cónaithe sa neastodhchaí, san áitreabh nó i gcuid den áitreabh, agus
(ii) gur áitreabh beag an t-áitreabh atá i gceist,
nó
(e) maidir le soláthar cóiríochta do dhaoine d'inscne amháin i gcás gur féidir a bheith ag súil leis go réasúnach go mbeidh aiféaltas nó sárú ar phríobháideacht ina thoradh ar dhuine d'inscne eile a bheith i láthair.
(3) Aon tagairtí i bhfo-alt (2) do dhiúscairt eastáit nó leasa in áitreabh nó do sholáthar cóiríochta nó aon seirbhísí nó taitneamhachtaí a bhaineann le cóiríocht, folaíonn siad tagairtí d'fhoirceannadh aon tionóntachta nó leasa eile san áitreabh sin nó do scor de chóiríocht, seirbhísí nó taitneamhachtaí den sórt sin a sholáthar.
(4) Déileálfar le háitreabh chun críocha mhíreanna (b) agus (d) d'fho-alt (2) mar áitreabh beag más rud é—
(a) i gcás áitribh arb éard atá ann cóiríocht chónaitheach do bhreis agus teaghlach amháin, nach mbíonn cóiríocht san áitreabh go hiondúil do bhreis agus trí theaghlach, nó
(b) in aon chás eile, nach mbíonn cóiríocht chónaitheach san áitreabh go hiondúil do bhreis agus seisear i dteannta duine a luaitear sna míreanna sin agus aon daoine a chónaíonn leis an duine sin.
(5) I gcás go bhfuil aon áitreabh nó cóiríocht in áirithe le húsáid ag daoine atá in earnáil áirithe daoine chun críche creidimh nó mar dhídean, teach banaltrais, teach scoir, teach do dhaoine faoi mhíchumas nó brú do dhaoine gan chónaí nó chun críche dá samhail, ní idirdhealú, ar an gcúis sin amháin, diúltú an t-áitreabh a dhiúscairt nó an chóiríocht a sholáthar do dhuine nach bhfuil san earnáil sin.
(6) Ní dhéanfar aon ní i bhfo-alt (1) a fhorléiriú mar ní lena dtoirmisctear—
(a) ar údarás tithíochta, de bhun a fheidhmeanna faoi Achtanna na dTithe, 1966 go 1998, nó
(b) ar chomhlacht atá ceadaithe faoi alt 6 d'Acht na dTithe (Forálacha Ilghnéitheacha), 1992,
déileáil, i ndáil le cóiríocht tithíochta, ar bhealach éagsúil le daoine, bunaithe ar mhéid an teaghlaigh, stádas teaghlaigh, stádas pósta, míchumas, aois nó toisc gur den Lucht Siúil iad.
Bunachais oideachais.
7.—(1) San alt seo ciallaíonn “bunachas oideachais” seirbhís réamhscoile de réir bhrí Chuid VII den Acht um Chúram Leanaí, 1991, bunscoil nó iar-bhunscoil, foras a sholáthraíonn oideachas aosach, oideachas leanúnach nó breisoideachas, nó ollscoil nó aon fhoras tríú leibhéal nó ardleibhéil eile, cibé acu atá sé á chothú ag cistí poiblí nó nach bhfuil.
(2) Ní dhéanfaidh bunachas oideachais idirdhealú i ndáil leis na nithe seo a leanas—
(a) duine a ligean isteach sa bhunachas mar mhac léinn nó na téarmaí nó na coinníollacha a bhaineann le duine a ligean isteach sa bhunachas mar mhac léinn,
(b) rochtain mic léinn ar aon chúrsa, saoráid nó sochar a sholáthraíonn an bunachas,
(c) aon téarma nó coinníoll eile a bhaineann le páirteachas ag mac léinn sa bhunachas, nó
(d) díbirt mic léinn as an mbunachas nó aon smachtbhanna eile i gcoinne an mhic léinn.
(3) Ní dhéanann bunachas oideachais idirdhealú faoi fho-alt (2) de bhíthin amháin—
(a) i gcás nach foras oideachais tríú leibhéal an bunachas agus nach ligeann sé isteach ach mic léinn d'inscne amháin, go ndiúltaíonn sé duine nach den inscne sin a ligean isteach mar mhac léinn,
(b) i gcás gur foras an bunachas a bunaíodh chun oiliúint a sholáthar do mhinistrí creidimh agus nach ligeann sé isteach ach mic léinn d'inscne amháin nó de chreideamh amháin, go ndiúltaíonn sé duine nach den inscne sin nó den chreideamh sin a ligean isteach mar mhac léinn,
(c) i gcás gur scoil an bunachas a sholáthraíonn bunoideachas nó iar-bhunoideachas do mhic léinn agus gurb é cuspóir na scoile oideachas a sholáthar i dtimpeallacht a chuireann luachanna áirithe creidimh chun cinn, go ndéanann sé daoine de shainaicme áirithe creidimh a ligean isteach de rogha ar dhaoine eile nó go ndiúltaíonn sé duine nach den tsainaicme sin a ligean isteach mar mhac léinn agus, i gcás diúltú, go gcruthaítear go bhfuil an diúltú riachtanach chun aetas na scoile a chothú,
(d) gan dochar d'alt 3 d'Acht na nDídeanaithe, 1996, i gcás gur foras an bunachas a sholáthraíonn oideachas aosach, oideachas leanúnach nó breisoideachas nó gur ollscoil nó foras oideachais tríú leibhéal eile é—
(i) nach ionann an chóir a chuirfidh sé ar fáil—
(I) i ndáil le táillí chun daoine is náisiúnaigh de bhallstát den Aontas Eorpach agus daoine nach ea a ligean isteach nó chun go ndéanfadh daoine den sórt sin freastal air, nó
(II) i ndáil le hionaid sa bhunachas a leithroinnt ar na náisiúnaigh sin agus ar náisiúnaigh eile,
nó
(ii) go dtairgfidh sé cúnamh d'earnálacha áirithe daoine—
(I) trí urraíochtaí, scoláireachtaí, sparánachtaí nó dámhachtainí eile, ar cúnamh é atá inchosanta, ag féachaint do chúinsí traidisiúin agus staire, nó
(II) i ndáil le hionaid sa bhunachas a leithroinnt, más rud é go ndéantar an leithroinnt de bhun comhaontú a bhaineann le malartú mac léinn arna dhéanamh idir an bunachas agus foras nó údarás oideachais i ndlínse seachas an Stát,
nó
(e) i gcás gur ollscoil nó foras tríú leibhéal eile an bunachas, nach ionann an chóir a chuirfidh sé ar fáil le linn ionaid sa bhunachas a leithroinnt ar mhic léinn aibí (de réir bhrí na nAchtanna um Údaráis Áitiúla (Deontais Ardoideachais), 1968 go 1992).
(4) Níl feidhm ag fo-alt (2)—
(a) maidir le difríochtaí sa chóir a chuirtear ar mhic léinn ar an bhforas inscne, aoise nó míchumais i ndáil le soláthar nó eagrú saoráidí spóirt nó imeachtaí spóirt, a mhéid atá gá go réasúnach leis na difríochtaí ag féachaint do chineál na saoráidí nó na n-imeachtaí, nó
(b) a mhéid a d'fhágfadh comhlíonadh aon cheann dá fhorálacha i ndáil le mac léinn atá faoi mhíchumas, de bhua an mhíchumais, nárbh fhéidir leis an mbunachas oideachais a sheirbhísí a sholáthar do mhic léinn eile, nó a mhéid a bheadh éifeacht thromaí chun dochair ag comhlíonadh den sórt sin ar an soláthar sin.
Clubanna idirdhealaitheacha.
8.—(1) San alt seo—
ciallaíonn “deimhniú cláraitheachta”, i ndáil le club, deimhniú cláraitheachta an chlub faoi Achtanna Clárú na gClubanna, 1904 go 1999;
ciallaíonn “club” club a bhfuil iarratas déanta aige ar dheimhniú cláraitheachta nó a shealbhaíonn deimhniú cláraitheachta.
(2) Chun críocha an ailt seo—
(a) measfar gur club idirdhealaitheach club más rud é—
(i) go bhfuil aon riail, beartas nó cleachtas aige lena ndéantar idirdhealú i gcoinne comhalta nó iarratasóra ar chomhaltas, nó
(ii) go ndéanann duine atá ag gabháil do bhainistiú an chlub idirdhealú i gcoinne comhalta nó iarratasóra ar chomhaltas i ndáil le gnóthaí an chlub,
(b) gan dochar do ghinearáltacht mhír (a), aon cheann de na gníomhartha seo a leanas, má dhéanann club nó duine atá ag gabháil do bhainistiú an chlub é ar aon fhoras de na forais idirdhealaitheacha, beidh sé ina fhianaise gur club idirdhealaitheach an club:
(i) diúltú duine a ligean isteach ina chomhaltas;
(ii) téarmaí agus coinníollacha éagsúla comhaltais a sholáthar do chomhaltaí nó d'iarratasóirí ar chomhaltas;
(iii) comhaltas duine a fhoirceannadh nó comhalta a chur faoi aon smachtbhanna eile; nó
(iv) diúltú nó mainneachtain, de shárú ar alt 4(1), gach ní atá réasúnach a dhéanamh chun freastal ar riachtanais comhalta, nó iarratasóra ar chomhaltas, atá faoi mhíchumas.
(3) Féadfaidh aon duine, lena n-áirítear an tÚdarás (dá ngairtear “an t-iarratasóir” san alt seo), ar iarratas chuig an gCúirt Dúiche (dá ngairtear “an Chúirt” san alt seo), a iarraidh ar an gCúirt cinneadh a dhéanamh i dtaobh an club idirdhealaitheach club.
(4) Féadfaidh an Chúirt iarratas a dhíbhe má fhaightear amach gur de mheon mímhacánta a tugadh é nó go bhfuil sé suaibhreosach nó cráiteach nó go mbaineann sé le ní fánach.
(5) Déanfaidh an t-iarratasóir cóip den iarratas a sheirbheáil, le seirbheáil phearsanta nó leis an bpost, ar an gclub agus ar cibé comhaltaí, oifigigh agus fostaithe den chlub (más ann) agus ar cibé daoine eile (más ann) a ordóidh an Chúirt le hordú agus breithneoidh an Chúirt an t-iarratas, agus tabharfaidh sí deis réasúnach don iarratasóir, don chlub agus d'aon chomhaltaí, oifigigh, fostaithe agus daoine eile den sórt sin uiríll a dhéanamh.
(6) Tar éis di na huiríll a bhreithniú—
(a) déanfaidh an Chúirt ordú i scríbhinn ina leagfar amach a cinneadh i dtaobh an club idirdhealaitheach an club nó nach ea, agus
(b) cuirfidh an Chúirt faoi deara cóip den ordú a tharchur chuig an Aire.
(7) (a) I gcás—
(i) go ndéanfaidh an Chúirt ordú faoi fho-alt (6)(a) ina leagfar amach a cinneadh gur club idirdhealaitheach club, agus
(ii) gurb é an t-ordú an chéad ordú den sórt sin i ndáil leis an gclub,
áireoidh an Chúirt san ordú foráil lena bhfionraítear deimhniú cláraitheachta an chlub go ceann tréimhse nach faide ná 30 lá.
(b) I gcás go ndéanfaidh an Chúirt aon ordú den sórt sin ina dhiaidh sin, beidh feidhm ag alt 10 agus beidh éifeacht le halt 10 i ndáil leis.
(8) (a) Féadfaidh an t-iarratasóir, an club nó aon duine eile eile ar ar seirbheáladh cóip den iarratas faoi fho-alt (3), laistigh de 42 lá tar éis an ordaithe, achomharc a dhéanamh chun na Cúirte Cuarda i gcoinne an ordaithe nó forála den ordú lena bhfionraítear an deimhniú cláraitheachta.
(b) Ar achomharc i gcoinne an ordaithe féadfaidh an Chúirt Chuarda le hordú—
(i) i gcás go mbeidh an Chúirt Dúiche tar éis a chinneadh nach club idirdhealaitheach an club—
(I) an t-ordú a dhaingniú, nó
(II) an t-achomharc a cheadú, cinneadh a dhéanamh gur club idirdhealaitheach an club agus, más é an cinneadh an chéad chinneadh den sórt sin i ndáil leis an gclub, deimhniú cláraitheachta an chlub a fhionraí go ceann tréimhse nach faide ná 30 lá,
(ii) in aon chás eile—
(I) an t-ordú a dhaingniú,
(II) más rud é go bhfuil foráil lena bhfionraítear an deimhniú cláraitheachta ar áireamh san ordú, cinneadh na Cúirte Dúiche a dhaingniú ach an tréimhse fionraí a athrú, nó
(III) an t-achomharc a cheadú.
(c) Ar achomharc nach bhfuil ach i gcoinne forála den ordú lena bhfionraítear an deimhniú cláraitheachta, féadfaidh an Chúirt Chuarda le hordú an tréimhse fionraí a athrú.
(d) Cuirfidh an Chúirt Chuarda faoi deara cóip dá hordú a chur chuig an Aire.
(9) Tosóidh tréimhse fionraí deimhniú cláraitheachta dá bhforáiltear in ordú faoi fho-alt (6)(a)—
(a) mura ndéanfar achomharc ar bith i gcoinne an ordaithe nó na tréimhse fionraí, ar an 50ú lá tar éis an t-ordú a dhéanamh, nó
(b) má dhéantar achomharc den sórt sin agus má dhaingnítear an t-ordú, nó má dhéantar an tréimhse fionraí a dhaingniú nó a athrú, ar an 50ú lá tar éis an t-ordú a dhéanamh ar an achomharc,
agus críochnóidh sí—
(i) mura ndéanfar achomharc ar bith i gcoinne an ordaithe nó na tréimhse fionraí, ag deireadh na tréimhse fionraí dá bhforáiltear san ordú,
(ii) má dhéantar achomharc den sórt sin agus má dhaingnítear an t-ordú nó an tréimhse fionraí, ag deireadh na tréimhse fionraí dá bhforáiltear amhlaidh, nó
(iii) má athraítear an tréimhse fionraí ar achomharc, ag deireadh na tréimhse arna hathrú amhlaidh.
(10) I gcás nach dtionscnófar achomharc i gcoinne ordú faoi fho-alt (6)(a) (seachas ordú dá dtagraítear i bhfo-alt (7)(a)), tiocfaidh an t-ordú in éifeacht ar an 50ú lá tar éis é a dhéanamh.
(11) Aon ordú faoin alt seo lena bhfionraítear deimhniú cláraitheachta club, beidh éifeacht leis, le linn dó a bheith i bhfeidhm, chun críocha Achtanna Clárú na gClubanna, 1904 go 1999, amhail is nár deonaíodh deimhniú ar bith faoi na hAchtanna sin i leith an chlub don tréimhse fionraí.
(12) Maidir le haon fhostaí atá ag obair i gclub i rith aon tréimhse fionraí i leith dheimhniú cláraitheachta an chlub, ní bheidh sé nó sí faoi mhíbhuntáiste mar gheall ar an bhfionraí ina fhostaíocht nó ina fostaíocht i rith na tréimhse sin.
(13) Chun críocha fho-alt (12) ciallaíonn “fostaí” aon duine a oibríonn faoi chonradh fostaíochta le fostóir nó is fostaí páirtaimseartha rialta mar a mhínítear in alt 1 den Acht um Chosaint Oibrithe (Fostaithe Páirtaimseartha Rialta), 1991.
(14) Cuirfidh an tAire faoi deara sonraí d'ordú faoi fho-alt (6)(a) agus sonraí aon ordaithe a bheidh déanta ag an gCúirt Chuarda ar achomharc a fhoilsiú nó a chur ar fáil i cibé foirm agus modh is cuí leis an Aire sna himthosca—
(a) tar éis 50 lá a bheith caite ón tráth a ndéanfar an t-ordú faoi fho-alt (6)(a), nó
(b) má bhíonn achomharc déanta i gcoinne an ordaithe, tar éis an t-achomharc a bheith cinnte go críochnaitheach.
(15) Aon chlub a gcinnfidh an Chúirt Dúiche faoin alt seo gur club idirdhealaitheach é, féadfaidh sé, aon tráth, ar iarratas chuig an gCúirt sin, a iarraidh go ndéanfadh sí cinneadh i dtaobh an leanann an club de bheith ina chlub idirdhealaitheach agus, i gcás go ndéanfar iarratas, beidh feidhm ag forálacha an ailt seo ar an modh céanna agus go feadh an mhéid chéanna a bheadh feidhm leo dá mbeadh an t-iarratas déanta faoi fho-alt (3), ach amháin go seirbheálfaidh an club cóip den iarratas, mura n-ordóidh an Chúirt a mhalairt, le seirbheáil phearsanta nó leis an bpost, ar an duine arbh é nó í an t-iarratasóir bunaidh, más féidir, agus ar cibé daoine eile a ordóidh an Chúirt le hordú.
Clubanna neamhidirdhealaitheacha.
9.—(1) Chun críocha alt 8, ní mheasfar gur club idirdhealaitheach club de bhíthin amháin—
(a) más é an príomhchuspóir atá leis gan freastal ach do riachtanais—
(i) daoine d'inscne, stádas pósta, stádas teaghlaigh, gnéaschlaonadh, creideamh, aois, míchumas, náisiúntacht nó bunadh eitneach nó náisiúnta áirithe,
(ii) daoine den Lucht Siúil, nó
(iii) daoine nach bhfuil creideamh ar bith acu,
go ndiúltaíonn sé comhaltas do dhaoine eile,
(b) nach dtugann sé rochtain ar shochar nó pribhléid comhaltais ach do chomhaltaí atá laistigh d'earnáil inscne nó aoise áirithe, más rud é—
(i) nach bhfuil sé indéanta go dteachtfadh comhaltaí atá lasmuigh den earnáil an sochar nó an phribhléid i gcomhthráth le comhaltaí atá laistigh den earnáil, agus
(ii) go bhfuil socruithe déanta ag an gclub lena dtairgtear an sochar céanna nó an phribhléid chéanna nó sochar nó pribhléid atá coibhéiseach go réasúnach do chomhaltaí atá laistigh den earnáil agus do chomhaltaí atá lasmuigh den earnáil araon,
(c) go bhfuil cineálacha éagsúla comhaltais aige, agus nach bhfuil rochtain orthu bunaithe ar fhoras idirdhealaitheach ar bith,
(d) chun éifeacht aon rialach nó cleachtais de chuid an chlub a laghdú nó deireadh a chur léi (cibé acu a glacadh léi nó leis roimh thosach feidhme an ailt seo nó dá éis) lena ndéantar gan rochtain ar chineálacha áirithe comhaltais a thabhairt ach do dhaoine d'inscne áirithe go dtairgeann sé rátaí, táillí nó socruithe comhaltais lamháltais do dhaoine a bhí nó atá faoi mhíbhuntáiste le haon riail nó cleachtas den sórt sin, nó
(e) nach ionann an chóir a chuirfidh sé ar fáil do chomhaltaí in earnáil inscne, aoise, míchumais, náisiúntachta nó bunaidh eitnigh nó náisiúnta áirithe i ndáil le saoráidí nó imeachtaí spóirt agus go mbeidh an chóir nach ionann ábhartha maidir le cuspóir na saoráidí nó na n-imeachtaí agus go mbeidh gá léi go réasúnach.
(2) Chun críocha alt 8, ní mheasfar gur club idirdhealaitheach club de bhíthin amháin—
(a) go bhfuil ionad nó ionaid in áirithe ar a bhord nó ar a choiste bainistíochta do dhaoine is comhaltaí d'earnáil áirithe, agus gurb é an príomhchuspóir atá leis sin comhionannas a chur chun cinn, nó
(b) go ndéanann sé bearta eile arb é an príomhchuspóir atá leo páirteachas níos cothroime ag daoine is comhaltaí d'earnáil áirithe a thabhairt i gcrích i gcúrsaí an chlub.
Socrú breise i ndáil le clubanna idirdhealaitheacha.
10.—(1) D'ainneoin aon ní in Achtanna Clárú na gClubanna, 1904 go 1999—
(a) faoi réir mhír (b), fad a fhanfaidh in éifeacht ordú faoi alt 8 lena gcinntear gur club idirdhealaitheach club, ní dhéanfar deimhniú cláraitheachta ar bith faoi na hAchtanna sin a dheonú don chlub ná a athnuachan chun sochair an chlub, nó
(b) i gcás go mbeidh ordú faoi alt 8 déanta á chinneadh gur club idirdhealaitheach club agus go bhfuil iarratas faoi fho-alt (15) den alt sin i leith an chlub ar feitheamh, féadfar deimhniú cláraitheachta an chlub faoi na hAchtanna sin a athnuachan de réir na nAchtanna sin ach scoirfidh sé de bheith i bhfeidhm—
(i) ag deireadh bliana amháin tar éis dháta na hathnuachana, mura mbeidh cinneadh ar bith faoi alt 8 déanta laistigh den tréimhse sin i leith an chlub, nó
(ii) dáta cinnidh faoi alt 8 nach bhfuil an club tar éis scor de bheith ina chlub idirdhealaitheach,
cibé acu is túisce a tharlóidh.
(2) San alt seo, ní fholaíonn “ordú faoi alt 8” ordú faoin alt sin lena bhforáiltear d'fhionraí dheimhniú cláraitheachta an chlub lena mbaineann faoi Achtanna Clárú na gClubanna, 1904 go 1999.
Gnéaschiapadh agus ciapadh eile.
11.—(1) Ní dhéanfaidh duine duine eile (“an t-íospartach”) a ghnéaschiapadh ná a chiapadh (de réir bhrí fho-alt (4) nó (5)) más rud é, maidir leis an íospartach—
(a) go mbaineann sé féin nó sí féin leas, nó go bhféachann sé féin nó sí féin le leas a bhaint, as aon seirbhís a sholáthraíonn an duine nó go gceannaíonn sé nó sí aon earraí atá á ndiúscairt ag an duine, nó go bhféachann sé nó sí le haon earraí den sórt sin a cheannach,
(b) gurb é nó í an faighteoir beartaithe nó iarbhír ón duine ar aon áitreabh nó aon chóiríocht nó seirbhísí nó taitneamhachtaí a bhaineann le cóiríocht, nó
(c) gur mac léinn é nó í in aon bhunachas oideachais (de réir bhrí alt 7) ina bhfuil post údaráis ag an duine, go bhfuil iarratas déanta aige nó aici ar é nó í a ligean isteach i mbunachas oideachais den sórt sin, nó go mbaineann sé féin nó sí féin leas, nó go bhféachann sé féin nó sí féin le leas a bhaint, as aon seirbhís a thairgeann bunachas oideachais den sórt sin.
(2) Aon duine (“an duine freagrach”) atá freagrach as oibriú aon áite is bunachas oideachas nó ina dtairgtear earraí, seirbhísí nó saoráidí cóiríochta don phobal, ní cheadóidh sé nó sí do dhuine eile a bhfuil de cheart aige nó aici a bheith i láthair san áit nó leas a bhaint as aon saoráidí, earraí nó seirbhísí a sholáthraítear san áit sin, gnéaschiapadh ná ciapadh a fhulaingt san áit sin.
(3) Is cosaint é don duine freagrach a chruthú gur ghlac sé nó sí cibé bearta is indéanta go réasúnach chun cosc roimh ré a chur le gnéaschiapadh nó ciapadh, de réir mar a bheidh, an duine eile dá dtagraítear i bhfo-alt (2) nó earnála daoine dar di an duine eile sin.
(4) Tarlaíonn gnéaschiapadh i gcás go ndéanann duine—
(a) duine eile (“an t-íospartach”) a chur faoi réir gnímh dlúthchaidrimh fhisicigh,
(b) fabhair ghnéis a iarraidh ar an íospartach, nó
(c) an t-íospartach a chur faoi réir aon ghnímh nó iompair lena ngabhann seach-chialla gnéis lena n-áirítear focail labhartha, gothaí nó táirgeadh, taispeáint nó scaipeadh focal scríofa, pictiúr nó ábhair eile,
más rud é—
(i) gur gníomh, iarraidh nó iompar atá ann nach bhfáiltíonn an t-íospartach roimhe nó roimpi agus go bhféadfaí le réasún a mheas gur ábhar coil, uiríslithe nó imeaglaithe é nó í dó nó di, nó
(ii) go ndéileáiltear ar bhealach éagsúil leis an íospartach, nó go bhféadfaí le réasún coinne a bheith leis go ndéileálfaí amhlaidh leis an íospartach, de bhrí go ndiúltaíonn sé nó sí nó go ngéilleann sé nó sí, de réir mar a bheidh, don ghníomh, don iarraidh nó don iompar.
(5) Tarlaíonn ciapadh nuair a chuireann duine duine eile (“an t-íospartach”) faoi réir aon ghnímh, iarrata nó iompair, lena n-áirítear focail labhartha, gothaí nó táirgeadh, taispeáint nó scaipeadh focal scríofa, pictiúr nó ábhair eile, nach bhfáiltítear roimhe nó roimpi agus atá, i leith an íospartaigh, bunaithe ar aon fhoras idirdhealaitheach agus a bhféadfaí le réasún a mheas gur ábhar coil, uiríslithe nó imeaglaithe é dó nó di.
Fógraíocht thoirmiscthe.
12.—(1) Ní fhoilseoidh ná ní thaispeánfaidh duine, ná ní chuirfidh sé nó sí faoi deara go bhfoilseofar nó go dtaispeánfar, fógrán a chuirfidh in iúl go mbeartaítear gabháil d'iompar toirmiscthe nó a bhféadfaí le réasún a thuiscint uaidh go bhfuil sin beartaithe.
(2) Aon duine a dhéanann ráiteas is eol don duine a bheith bréagach d'fhonn foilsiú nó taispeáint a áirithiú de shárú ar fho-alt (1), beidh sé nó sí, ar an bhfoilsiú nó an taispeáint a dhéanamh, ciontach i gcion.
(3) I bhfo-alt (1), folaíonn “fógrán” gach foirm fógráin, cibé acu is don phobal é nó nach ea agus cibé acu i nuachtán nó i bhfoilseachán eile, ar an teilifís nó ar an raidió nó trí fhógra a thaispeáint nó ar aon mhodh eile dó, agus forléireofar dá réir sin tagairtí d'fhógráin a fhoilsiú nó a thaispeáint.
Iompar toirmiscthe a thabhairt chun críche.
13.—(1) Ní dhéanfaidh duine duine eile a aslú ná ní dhéanfaidh sé nó sí iarracht duine eile a aslú chun gabháil d'iompar toirmiscthe.
(2) Aon duine a sháróidh fo-alt (1) beidh sé nó sí ciontach i gcion.
Bearta nó gníomhaíochtaí áirithe gan a bheith toirmiscthe.
14.—Ní fhorléireofar aon ní san Acht seo mar ní a thoirmisceann—
(a) déanamh aon ghnímh a cheanglaítear—
(i) le haon achtachán nó ordú cúirte nó faoi aon achtachán nó ordú cúirte,
(ii) le haon ionstraim arna déanamh nó beart arna ghlacadh ag an Aontas Eorpach, ag na Comhphobail Eorpacha nó institiúidí dá gcuid nó ag comhlachtaí atá inniúil faoi na Conarthaí ag bunú na gComhphobal Eorpach nó faoi aon ionstraim nó beart den sórt sin, nó
(iii) le haon choinbhinsiún nó ionstraim eile lena bhforchuirtear oibleagáid idirnáisiúnta ar an Stát nó faoin gcéanna,
nó
(b) cóir fhabhrach nó déanamh beart dearfach a bhfuil sé beartaithe ar bhonn bona fide ina leith—
(i) comhionannas deiseanna a chur chun cinn do dhaoine atá, i ndáil le daoine eile, faoi mhíbhuntáiste nó nach raibh in ann nó nach dóigh dóibh a bheith in ann leas a bhaint as na deiseanna céanna a raibh nó a mbeidh na daoine eile sin in ann leas a bhaint astu, nó
(ii) freastal do riachtanais speisialta daoine, nó earnála daoine, a mbeidh de dhíth orthu, mar gheall ar a n-imthosca, saoráidí, socruithe, seirbhísí nó cúnamh nach bhfuil de dhíth ar dhaoine nach bhfuil na riachtanais speisialta sin acu.
Gníomhaíochtaí áirithe gan a bheith ina n-idirdhealú.
15.—(1) Ar mhaithe le breis cinnteachta, ní fhorléireofar aon ní san Acht seo lena dtoirmisctear idirdhealú mar ní lena gceanglaítear ar dhuine earraí nó áitreabh a dhiúscairt, nó seirbhísí nó cóiríocht, nó seirbhísí agus taitneamhachtaí a bhaineann le cóiríocht, a sholáthar do dhuine eile (“an custaiméir”) in imthosca lena dtabharfaí ar phearsa aonair réasúnach a mbeadh freagracht, eolas agus taithí an duine aige nó aici a chreidiúint, ar fhorais seachas forais idirdhealaitheacha, go mbeadh ann, de bharr diúscairt na n-earraí nó an áitribh nó soláthar na seirbhísí nó na cóiríochta nó na seirbhísí agus na dtaitneamhachtaí a bhaineann le cóiríocht, de réir mar a bheidh, don chustaiméir, baol mór iompair nó iompraíochta atá coiriúil nó easordúil nó baol mór go ndéanfaí damáiste do mhaoin san áit a lorgaítear na hearraí nó na seirbhísí nó san áit a bhfuil an t-áitreabh nó an chóiríocht nó i gcomharsanacht na háite sin.
(2) Aon ghníomh a dhéanfar de mheon macánta ag sealbhóir ceadúnais nó údaraithe eile lena gceadaítear deoch mheisciúil a dhíol nó thar ceann sealbhóra den sórt sin, d'aon toisc chun a chinntiú go ndéanfar de réir fhorálacha na nAchtanna Ceadúnúcháin, 1833 go 1999, ní idirdhealú é.
Gníomhaíochtaí neamhidirdhealaitheacha eile.
16.—(1) Maidir le táille, muirear nó ráta fabhrach réasúnach a fhorchur nó a choimeád i leith aon ní a thairgtear nó a sholáthraítear do dhaoine mar aon lena leanaí, do lánúineacha pósta, do dhaoine in aoisghrúpa sonrach nó do dhaoine atá faoi mhíchumas nó i leith daoine nó lánúineacha den sórt sin—
(a) ní idirdhealú é chun críocha alt 5 nó 6, nó
(b) ní riail, beartas ná cleachtas idirdhealaitheach é chun críocha alt 8(2)(a).
(2) Ní idirdhealú déileáil ar bhealach éagsúil le duine más rud é, maidir leis an duine—
(a) nach ndéileáiltear amhlaidh leis nó léi ach amháin i bhfeidhmiú breithiúnais chliniciúil i dtaca le tinneas a fháthmheas nó lena chóireáil mhíochaine nó lena cóireáil mhíochaine, nó
(b) go bhfuil sé nó sí neamhinniúil ar chonradh infhorfheidhmithe a dhéanamh nó ar thoiliú feasach a thabhairt agus, ar an ábhar sin, go bhfuil an déileáil réasúnach sa chás áirithe.
Rialacháin a bhaineann le trealmhú feithiclí.
17.—(1) Féadfaidh an tAire, le comhaontú an Aire Fiontar Poiblí, rialacháin a dhéanamh lena gceanglófar go mbeidh feithiclí nua paisinéirí bóthair nó iarnróid—
(a) a ndéanann oibritheoir bóthar-sheirbhíse do phaisinéirí nó oibritheoir iarnród-seirbhíse do phaisinéirí iad a cheannach nó a léasú, agus
(b) atá le húsáid chun críocha ceachtar seirbhíse acu sin,
trealmhaithe le go mbeidh siad inrochtana go réidh agus inúsáidte ag daoine atá faoi mhíchumas.
(2) Ní bheidh feidhm ag rialacháin faoi fho-alt (1) maidir le hoibritheoir a bhfuil a phríomháit ghnó nó a príomháit ghnó lasmuigh den Stát.
(3) Féadfaidh feidhm ghinearálta a bheith le rialacháin faoi fho-alt (1) nó féadfar iad a dhéanamh i leith aon earnála oibritheora nó feithicle agus féadfar na nithe seo a leanas a shonrú leo—
(a) líon nó coibhneas feithiclí oibritheora, nó aon earnála díobh, a bhfuil feidhm ag na rialacháin maidir leo,
(b) an tráth a thiocfaidh na rialacháin in éifeacht i leith feithiclí oibritheora nó aon earnála díobh, agus
(c) na téarmaí agus na coinníollacha a mbeidh oibritheoir faoina réir chun go bhfaighidh an tAire amach an bhfuil an t-oibritheoir ag déanamh de réir na rialachán.
(4) I bhfo-alt (1) ciallaíonn “oibritheoir bóthar-sheirbhíse do phaisinéirí” oibritheoir bóthar-sheirbhíse do phaisinéirí de réir bhrí alt 2 den Acht um Iompar ar Bhóithre, 1932, arna leasú le halt 66 den Acht um Iompar ar Bhóithre, 1933, lena n-áirítear oibritheoir atá, de bhua an Achta Iompair, 1958, díolmhaithe ón gceanglas ceadúnas paisinéirí a shealbhú faoin Acht céadluaite.
Rialacháin a bhaineann le trealmhú stáisiún.
18.—(1) Féadfaidh an tAire, le comhaontú an Aire Fiontar Poiblí, rialacháin a dhéanamh lena gceanglófar ar oibritheoirí stáisiún bus agus stáisiún iarnróid saoráidí a sholáthar ag na stáisiúin sin ionas go mbeidh siad inrochtana go réidh agus inúsáidte ag daoine atá faoi mhíchumas.
(2) I bhfo-alt (1) ní fholaíonn “stáisiúin” aon áitreabh ag na stáisiúin sin nach n-úsáideann paisinéirí bus nó iarnróid de ghnáth.
(3) Féadfaidh feidhm ghinearálta a bheith le rialacháin faoin alt seo nó féadfar iad a dhéanamh i leith aon earnála oibritheora nó stáisiúin agus féadfar na nithe seo a leanas a shonrú leo—
(a) stáisiúin bhus nó iarnróid oibritheora, nó líon nó coibhneas stáisiún oibritheora nó aon earnála díobh, a bhfuil feidhm ag na rialacháin maidir leo,
(b) an tráth a thiocfaidh na rialacháin in éifeacht i leith stáisiún nó earnála stáisiún oibritheora, agus
(c) na téarmaí agus na coinníollacha a mbeidh oibritheoir faoina réir chun go bhfaighidh an tAire amach an bhfuil an t-oibritheoir ag déanamh de réir na rialachán.
Fánáin colbha, etc., a sholáthar.
19.—Más rud é go ndéanfaidh údarás bóithre, de réir bhrí alt 2 d'Acht na mBóithre, 1993, aon chosán poiblí nó aon phábháil phoiblí eile a fhoirgniú nó a athrú, nó go dtoileoidh sé aon chosán poiblí nó aon phábháil phoiblí eile a fhoirgniú nó a athrú, déanfaidh sé, chun soghluaisteacht daoine atá faoi mhíchumas a éascú, fánáin, colbhaí cuasacha nó claontáin eile a sholáthar, nó a cheangal go ndéanfar iad a sholáthar, ag áiteanna cuí ag aon trasrian coisithe nó crosbhealach a úsáideann coisithe sa chuid sin den chosán nó den phábháil arna foirgniú nó arna hathrú amhlaidh nó i gcomharsanacht an trasriain nó an chrosbhealaigh sin.
CUID III
Forfheidhmiú
Mínithe.
20.—Sa Chuid seo, mura n-éilíonn an comhthéacs a mhalairt—
ciallaíonn “gearánach” duine dá dtagraítear in alt 21 (1);
déanfar “oifigeach idirghabhála comhionannais” agus “oifigeach comhionannais” a fhorléiriú de réir Chuid VII den Acht um Chomhionannas Fostaíochta, 1998;
ciallaíonn “freagróir” duine a líomhnaíonn gearánach ina leith i gcás faoi alt 21(1) gur ghabh sé nó sí d'iompar toirmiscthe.
Sásamh i leith iompair thoirmiscthe.
21.—(1) Aon duine a éilíonn go raibh iompar toirmiscthe dírithe ina choinne nó ina coinne, féadfaidh sé nó sí, faoi réir an ailt seo, sásamh a lorg tríd an gcás a tharchur chuig an Stiúrthóir.
(2) Sula lorgóidh an gearánach sásamh faoin alt seo—
(a) déanfaidh sé nó sí, laistigh de 2 mhí tar éis an dáta a líomhnaítear gur tharla an t-iompar toirmiscthe, nó, más rud é go líomhnaítear gur tharla níos mó ná teagmhas amháin d'iompar toirmiscthe, laistigh de 2 mhí tar éis an teagmhais dheireanaigh den sórt sin, fógra a thabhairt don fhreagróir i scríbhinn—
(i) i dtaobh chineál na líomhna,
(ii) i dtaobh é a bheith ar intinn ag an ngearánach, mura bhfuil sé nó sí sásta le freagra an fhreagróra ar an líomhain, sásamh a lorg tríd an gcás a tharchur chuig an Stiúrthóir,
agus
(b) féadfaidh sé nó sí san fhógra sin, d'fhonn cuidiú leis an ngearánach le linn dó nó di a chinneadh an dtarchuirfidh sé nó sí an cás chuig an Stiúrthóir, ceisteanna i scríbhinn a chur ar an bhfreagróir d'fhonn faisnéis ábhartha a fháil agus féadfaidh an freagróir, más mian leis an bhfreagróir, aon cheisteanna den sórt sin a fhreagairt.
(3) Más rud é, ar iarratas ón ngearánach, gur deimhin leis an Stiúrthóir—
(a) nárbh fhéidir, de bharr imthosca eisceachtúla, leis an ngearánach fógra a thabhairt don fhreagróir de réir fho-alt (2), agus
(b) go bhfuil sé cóir agus cothromasach, ag féachaint do chineál an iompair líomhnaithe agus d'aon imthosca iomchuí eile, gur chóir an tréimhse chun dhéanamh amhlaidh a shíneadh thar an tréimhse 2 mhí dá bhforáiltear san fho-alt sin,
féadfaidh an Stiúrthóir a ordú, i ndáil leis an gcás sin, go mbeidh éifeacht le fo-alt (2) amhail is dá ndéanfaí tagairt do cibé tréimhse nach faide ná 4 mhí a bheidh sonraithe san ordachán a chur in ionad na tagartha do 2 mhí ansin; agus i gcás go dtabharfar ordachán den sórt sin, beidh éifeacht leis an gCuid seo dá réir sin.
(4) Ní dhéanfaidh an Stiúrthóir cás a imscrúdú mura deimhin leis nó léi gur fhreagair an freagróir an fógra nó go bhfuil mí amháin ar a laghad caite tar éis é a chur chuig an bhfreagróir.
(5) Féadfaidh an tAire, le rialacháin, an fhoirm atá le húsáid ag gearánach agus ag freagróir chun críocha fho-alt (2) a fhorordú.
(6) Faoi réir fho-alt (7), ní fhéadfar éileamh ar shásamh maidir le hiompar toirmiscthe a tharchur faoin alt seo i ndiaidh dheireadh na tréimhse 6 mhí ón dáta ar tharla nó, de réir mar a bheidh, ón dáta is déanaí ar tharla an t-iompar toirmiscthe lena mbaineann an cás.
(7) Más rud é, ar iarratas arna dhéanamh ag an ngearánach, gur deimhin leis an Stiúrthóir nárbh fhéidir, de dheasca imthosca eisceachtúla, cás an ghearánaigh a tharchur laistigh den teorainn ama a shonraítear i bhfo-alt (6)—
(a) féadfaidh an Stiúrthóir a ordú, i ndáil leis an gcás sin, go mbeidh éifeacht le fo-alt (6) amhail is dá ndéanfaí tagairt do cibé tréimhse nach faide ná 12 mhí a bheidh sonraithe san ordachán a chur in ionad na tagartha do thréimhse 6 mhí, agus
(b) i gcás go dtabharfar ordachán den sórt sin, beidh éifeacht leis an gCuid seo dá réir sin.
(8) Is faisnéis ábhartha faisnéis chun críocha an ailt seo más é atá inti—
(a) faisnéis maidir leis na cúiseanna atá ag an bhfreagróir le haon ghníomh iomchuí a dhéanamh nó a fhágáil gan déanamh agus maidir le haon chleachtais nó nósanna imeachta atá ábhartha maidir le haon ghníomh den sórt sin,
(b) faisnéis, seachas faisnéis faoi rún, maidir leis an gcaoi a ndéileáiltear le daoine eile atá, i ndáil leis an bhfreagróir, sa chás céanna leis an ngearánach nó i gcás dá shamhail, nó
(c) faisnéis eile nach faisnéis faoi rún agus a bhfuil sé réasúnach, in imthosca an cháis atá i gceist, go n-éileodh an gearánach í.
(9) I bhfo-alt (8) ciallaíonn “faisnéis faoi rún” aon fhaisnéis a bhaineann le pearsa aonair áirithe, ar féidir í a aithint mar fhaisnéis a bhaineann leis an bpearsa aonair sin agus nach n-aontaíonn an phearsa aonair sin lena nochtadh.
(10) Ní dochar an t-alt seo d'fhorálacha eile an Achta seo a bhaineann le faisnéis a fháil.
Éilimh a dhíbhe.
22.—Féadfaidh an Stiúrthóir éileamh a dhíbhe ag céim ar bith san imscrúdú má tá sé nó sí den tuairim gur de mheon mímhacánta a rinneadh an t-éileamh nó gur éileamh suaibhreosach nó cráiteach atá ann nó go mbaineann sé le ní fánach.
Nithe áirithe a tharchur chuig an Stiúrthóir.
23.—(1) I gás gur dealraitheach don Údarás—
(a) maidir le hiompar toirmiscthe—
(i) go bhfuil sé á dhíriú i gcoitinne i gcoinne daoine, nó
(ii) go raibh sé á dhíriú i gcoinne duine nach ndearna éileamh faoi alt 21(1) i leith an iompair thoirmiscthe agus nach bhfuil sé réasúnach a bheith ag súil go ndéanfaidh an duine amhlaidh,
nó
(b) go bhfuil alt 12(1) nó 19, nó rialacháin arna ndéanamh faoi alt 17 nó 18, sáraithe nó á sárú ag duine,
féadfaidh an tÚdarás an ní a tharchur chuig an Stiúrthóir.
(2) I gcás go ndéanfar ní a tharchur chuig an Stiúrthóir faoi fho-alt (1), déileálfar leis sa tslí chéanna agus go feadh an mhéid chéanna amhail is—
(a) dá mba éileamh arna tharchur chuig an Stiúrthóir faoi alt 21(1) a bhí ann,
(b) dá mba é an tÚdarás an gearánach agus dá mba é an duine a líomhnaítear gur ghabh sé nó sí don iompar toirmiscthe nó go ndearna sé nó sí an sárú dá dtagraítear i bhfo-alt (1)(b), de réir mar a bheidh, an freagróir, agus
(c) i gcás go bhfuil sárú dá dtagraítear i bhfo-alt (1)(b) i gceist leis an ní, dá mba iompar toirmiscthe an sárú.
(3) Más rud é, ar iarratas chun na hArd-Chúirte nó na Cúirte Cuarda, go sásaíonn an tUdarás an Chúirt go bhfuil cinneadh déanta ag an Stiúrthóir, de bhun alt 25(4)—
(a) gur ghabh duine d'iompar toirmiscthe, nó
(b) gur sháraigh duine alt 12(1) nó 19, nó rialacháin arna ndéanamh faoi alt 17 nó 18,
agus gur dóigh go dtarlóidh an t-iompar toirmiscthe arís nó go ndéanfaidh an duine sárú breise, féadfaidh an Chúirt urghaire nó cibé faoiseamh eile a mheasfaidh an Chúirt is gá a dheonú chun an tarlú nó an sárú breise sin a chosc.
Idirghabháil.
24.—(1) Faoi réir fho-alt (2), más rud é, tráth ar bith tar éis cás a bheith tarchurtha chuig an Stiúrthóir faoi alt 21, gur dealraitheach don Stiúrthóir gur cás é a d'fhéadfaí a réiteach trí idirghabháil, déanfaidh an Stiúrthóir an cás a tharchur chuig oifigeach idirghabhála comhionannais le haghaidh idirghabhála.
(2) Más rud é go gcuireann an gearánach nó an freagróir in aghaidh déileáil le cás trí idirghabháil, ní dhéanfaidh an Stiúrthóir a chumhachtaí nó a cumhachtaí faoin alt seo a fheidhmiú ach déileálfaidh sé nó sí leis an gcás faoi alt 25.
(3) Is go príobháideach a sheolfar idirghabháil.
(4) I gcás go ndéanfar cás arna tharchur faoi alt 21 a réiteach trí idirghabháil—
(a) ullmhóidh an t-oifigeach idirghabhála comhionannais lena mbaineann taifead i scríbhinn de théarmaí na socraíochta,
(b) síneoidh an gearánach agus an freagróir an taifead i scríbhinn de théarmaí na socraíochta,
(c) déanfaidh an t-oifigeach idirghabhála comhionannais cóip den taifead i scríbhinn, arna shíniú amhlaidh, a chur chuig an ngearánach agus chuig an bhfreagróir, agus
(d) coimeádfaidh an Stiúrthóir cóip den taifead i scríbhinn.
(5) Más rud é, tar éis cás a bheith tarchurtha chuig oifigeach idirghabhála comhionannais, gur dealraitheach don oifigeach idirghabhála comhionannais nach féidir an cás a réiteach trí idirghabháil, déanfaidh an t-oifigeach sin fógra á rá sin a eisiúint chuig an ngearánach agus chuig an bhfreagróir.
(6) Más rud é—
(a) gur eisíodh fógra faoi fho-alt (5) i leith cáis,
(b) laistigh de 28 lá ó eisiúint an fhógra sin, go ndéanfaidh an gearánach iarratas chuig an Stiúrthóir go n-athchromfaí ar éisteacht an cháis, agus
(c) go mbeidh cóip den fhógra sin ag gabháil leis an iarratas faoi mhír (b),
déileálfaidh an Stiúrthóir leis an gcás de réir alt 25.
Imscrúdú ag an Stiúrthóir.
25.—(1) Más rud é, maidir le cás a bheidh tarchurtha chuig an Stiúrthóir faoi alt 21—
(a) nach cás é a ndéileálfar leis trí idirghabháil faoi alt 24, nó
(b) gur cás é a ndéileálfar leis faoin alt seo de bhua alt 24(6),
déanfaidh an Stiúrthóir an cás a imscrúdú agus éisteacht a thabhairt do gach duine ar dealraitheach don Stiúrthóir leas a bheith acu ann agus gur mian leo éisteacht a fháil.
(2) Is go príobháideach a sheolfar imscrúdú faoin alt seo.
(3) Féadfaidh an tAire na nithe seo a leanas a shonrú le rialacháin—
(a) nósanna imeachta a leanfaidh an Stiúrthóir le linn imscrúduithe (nó imscrúdú d'aon tuairisc) a sheoladh faoin alt seo, agus
(b) teorainneacha ama is infheidhme maidir le himscrúduithe den sórt sin, lena n-áirítear nósanna imeachta chun na teorainneacha sin a fhadú in imthosca áirithe,
ach, sula ndéanfaidh sé nó sí aon rialacháin den sórt sin, rachaidh an tAire i gcomhairle leis an Stiúrthóir agus leis an Údarás.
(4) Ar imscrúdú faoin alt seo a thabhairt chun críche, tabharfaidh an Stiúrthóir breith ar an gcás agus, má tá an bhreith i bhfabhar an ghearánaigh, déanfar foráil inti do shásamh de réir alt 27.
Tátail as mainneachtain faisnéis, etc., a sholáthar.
26.—Más rud é, i gcúrsa imscrúdaithe faoi alt 25, gur dealraitheach don Stiúrthóir—
(a) nár fhreagair an freagróir fógra faoi alt 21(2)(a) nó aon cheist a chuir an gearánach faoi alt 21(2)(b),
(b) go raibh an fhaisnéis a sholáthair an freagróir, mar fhreagra ar an bhfógra nó ar aon cheist den sórt sin, bréagach nó míthreorach, nó
(c) maidir leis an bhfaisnéis a soláthraíodh mar fhreagra ar aon cheist den sórt sin, nárbh fhaisnéis í de shórt a chuideodh leis an ngearánach cinneadh a dhéanamh an dtarchuirfeadh sé nó sí an cás chuig an Stiúrthóir,
féadfaidh an Stiúrthóir cibé tátail, más ann, a mheasfaidh sé nó sí is cuí a bhaint as an mainneachtain freagra a thabhairt nó, de réir mar a bheidh, faisnéis mar a luaitear i mír (b) nó (c) a sholáthar.
Sásamh is inordaithe.
27.—(1) Faoi réir an ailt seo, is iad na cineálacha sásaimh ar féidir foráil a dhéanamh dóibh le breith ón Stiúrthóir faoi alt 25 ceachtar díobh seo a leanas, nó iad araon, de réir mar is cuí sna himthosca:
(a) ordú le haghaidh cúitimh in éifeachtaí an idirdhealaithe; nó
(b) ordú go ndéanfaidh duine nó daoine a shonrófar san ordú bearta a bheidh sonraithe amhlaidh.
(2) Is é an méid uasta a fhéadfaidh an Stiúrthóir a ordú mar chúiteamh faoi fho-alt (1)(a) an méid uasta a d'fhéadfadh Cúirt Dúiche a dhámhachtain i gcásanna sibhialta i gconradh.
Achomharc in aghaidh bhreith an Stiúrthóra.
28.—(1) Tráth nach déanaí ná 42 lá ó dháta aon bhreithe ón Stiúrthóir faoi alt 25, féadfaidh an gearánach nó an freagróir a bhfuil baint aige nó aici leis an éileamh achomharc a dhéanamh chun na Cúirte Cuarda in aghaidh na breithe le fógra i scríbhinn ina sonrófar forais an achomhairc.
(2) Ina cinneadh ar an achomharc, féadfaidh an Chúirt Chuarda foráil a dhéanamh d'aon sásamh a bhféadfaí foráil a dhéanamh dó leis an mbreith a ndearnadh achomharc ina haghaidh (ach rogha na Cúirte Cuarda a chur in ionad rogha an Stiúrthóra).
(3) Níl aon ábhar achomhairc eile ann, seachas achomharc chun na hArd-Chúirte ar phonc dlí.
Foirm breithe agus na hábhair a bheidh inti.
29.—(1) Is i scríbhinn a bheidh gach breith ón Stiúrthóir faoin gCuid seo agus—
(a) más cuí leis an Stiúrthóir, nó
(b) má iarrann aon cheann de na páirtithe amhlaidh,
beidh ráiteas sa bhreith maidir leis na cúiseanna ar tháinig an Stiúrthóir ar an mbreith.
(2) Féadfaidh an Stiúrthóir, trí fhógra i scríbhinn chuig an ngearánach agus chuig an bhfreagróir, ceartú a dhéanamh ar aon dearmad (lena n-áirítear rud atá fágtha ar lár) ar dearmad focal nó dearmad foirmiúil é i mbreith faoin gCuid seo.
(3) Mura ndéanfar aon duine a bhí páirteach in imscrúdú a shainaithint i gceart sa bhreith a thig as an imscrúdú, measfar go dtagann ceartú na hearráide sin faoi réim fho-alt (2).
Breith a sholáthar agus a fhoilsiú.
30.—(1) Tabharfar cóip de gach breith ón Stiúrthóir faoin gCuid seo don ghearánach agus don fhreagróir agus déanfar gach breith den sórt sin a fhoilsiú agus cuirfear cóip di ar fáil lena hiniúchadh in oifig an Stiúrthóra.
(2) Aon tagairt san alt seo do bhreith folaíonn sí tagairt d'aon ráiteas maidir le cúiseanna a bheidh sa bhreith de réir mar a luaitear in alt 29(1).
(3) Beidh an t-ábhar a bheidh in aon doiciméad a fhoilseofar nó a chuirfear ar fáil de bhua an ailt seo faoi phribhléid iomlán.
Breitheanna agus socraíochtaí idirghabhála a fhorfheidhmiú.
31.—(1) Má mhainníonn duine atá faoi cheangal ag téarmaí breithe ón Stiúrthóir faoin gCuid seo na téarmaí sin a chomhlíonadh, ansin, ar iarratas faoin alt seo, déanfaidh an Chúirt Chuarda, faoi réir alt 32, ordú a dhéanamh á ordú don duine dá ndéantar difear an bhreith a chur i gcrích de réir théarmaí na breithe.
(2) Má mhainníonn duine is páirtí i socraíocht lena mbaineann alt 24 éifeacht a thabhairt, go hiomlán nó go páirteach, do théarmaí na socraíochta, ansin, ar iarratas faoin alt seo, féadfaidh an Chúirt Chuarda ordú a dhéanamh á ordú don duine sin na téarmaí sin nó, de réir mar a bheidh, an chuid de na téarmaí sin lena mbaineann an t-iarratas, a chur i gcrích; ach ní ordóidh an Chúirt Chuarda, de bhua an fho-ailt seo, d'aon duine aon suim a íoc nó aon ní eile a dhéanamh nach bhféadfaí foráil a dhéanamh dó (dá mbeifí tar éis déileáil leis an ní ar shlí seachas trí idirghabháil) ar mhodh sásaimh faoi alt 27.
(3) Ní fhéadfar iarratas a dhéanamh faoin alt seo laistigh de 42 lá ó dháta na breithe nó ó dháta an taifid i scríbhinn den tsocraíocht, de réir mar a bheidh.
(4) Maidir le hiarratas faoin alt seo—
(a) féadfaidh an gearánach é a dhéanamh, nó
(b) más rud é nach é an tÚdarás an gearánach agus go measann sé nach dócha go gcuirfí an bhreith nó an tsocraíocht i ngníomh mura mbeadh lámh aige féin ann, féadfaidh an tÚdarás é a dhéanamh le toiliú an ghearánaigh.
(5) Ar iarratas faoin alt seo, feidhmeoidh an Chúirt Chuarda a feidhmeanna faoi fho-alt (1) nó (2) ar í a bheith deimhin de—
(a) gurb ann don bhreith nó don tsocraíocht agus i dtaobh théarmaí an chéanna, agus
(b) gur mhainnigh an duine dá ndéantar difear na téarmaí sin a chomhlíonadh.
(6) Gan dochar do chumhacht na Cúirte Cuarda ordú a dhéanamh le haghaidh costas i bhfabhar an ghearánaigh nó an duine dá ndéantar difear, i gcás go ndéanfaidh an tÚdarás iarratas de bhua fho-alt (4), féadfaidh an Chúirt Chuarda costais an Údaráis a dhámhachtain.
Cumhachtaí breise na Cúirte Cuarda ar fhorfheidhmiú.
32.—(1) I gcás ina ndéanfaidh an Chúirt Chuarda ordú faoi alt 31(1), féadfaidh sí, más rud é sna himthosca go léir go measfaidh sí gur cuí déanamh amhlaidh, an t-ordachán breise dá dtagraítear i bhfo-alt (2) a áireamh san ordú.
(2) I gcás ina mbaineann an t-ordú faoi alt 31(1) le breith lena gceanglaítear cúiteamh a íoc le haon duine, féadfaidh an t-ordú a ordú don fhreagróir lena mbaineann ús a íoc ar an gcúiteamh de réir an ráta dá dtagraítear in alt 22 d'Acht na gCúirteanna, 1981, i leith na tréimhse go léir nó aon chuid den tréimhse dar críoch dáta an ordaithe agus dar tosach—
(a) 42 lá tar éis dháta na breithe, nó
(b) más déanaí ná sin é, an dáta ar ar ceanglaíodh an cúiteamh a íoc faoin mbreith.
Cumhachtaí dul isteach in áitreabh, faisnéis a fháil, etc.
33.—(1) San alt seo—
ciallaíonn “oifigeach ainmnithe” an Stiúrthóir, oifigeach comhionannais nó duine a bheidh údaraithe chuige sin ag an Stiúrthóir;
ciallaíonn “faisnéis ábhartha” faisnéis a bhfuil forais réasúnacha ag oifigeach ainmnithe chun a chreidiúint gur faisnéis iomchuí í chun na críche atá leagtha amach i bhfo-alt (2).
(2) Chun a chumasú faisnéis a fháil a theastóidh ón Stiúrthóir chun a chumasú dó nó di a fheidhmeanna nó a feidhmeanna a fheidhmiú faoin gCuid seo, féadfaidh oifigeach ainmnithe aon cheann amháin nó níos mó díobh seo a leanas a dhéanamh:
(a) gach tráth réasúnach, dul isteach go síochánta in áitreabh;
(b) a cheangal ar aon duine aon taifid, leabhair, doiciméid nó nithe eile atá faoi chumhacht nó faoi rialú an duine sin, agus a bhfuil forais réasúnacha ag an oifigeach ainmnithe chun a chreidiúint go bhfuil faisnéis ábhartha iontu, a thabhairt ar aird don oifigeach ainmnithe agus cibé faisnéis agus rochtain a thabhairt don oifigeach ainmnithe a theastóidh le réasún ón oifigeach ainmnithe i ndáil lena bhfuil in aon taifid, leabhair, doiciméid nó nithe eile den sórt sin;
(c) aon taifid, leabhair, doiciméid nó nithe eile den sórt sin a iniúchadh agus a chóipeáil nó sleachta a thógáil astu;
(d) aon obair atá ar siúl ag aon áitreabh a iniúchadh.
(3) Ní dhéanfar na cumhachtaí a thugtar le fo-alt (2) a fheidhmiú i leith teaghaise ná i leith aon duine, taifid, leabhair, doiciméid ná ní eile i dteaghais mura rud é go ndéanfaidh an tAire (nó oifigeach don Aire a bheidh údaraithe chuige sin ag an Aire) a dheimhniú i scríbhinn go bhfuil forais réasúnacha ann chun a chreidiúint go bhfuil faisnéis sa teaghais atá ábhartha maidir le himscrúdú cáis, nó le breithniú achomhairc, faoin gCuid seo.
(4) Más deimhin le breitheamh den Chúirt Dúiche, trí fhaisnéis faoi mhionn ó oifigeach ainmnithe, go bhfuil cúis réasúnach amhrais ann go bhfuil aon taifid, leabhair, doiciméid nó nithe eile ina bhfuil faisnéis ábhartha le fáil ag aon áitreabh, féadfaidh an breitheamh barántas cuardaigh a eisiúint faoin alt seo.
(5) Maidir le barántas cuardaigh arna eisiúint faoin alt seo beidh sé sainráite ann go n-údaraíonn sé, agus oibreoidh sé chun a údarú, d'oifigeach ainmnithe sonraithe, agus cibé daoine eile a mheasfaidh an t-oifigeach ainmnithe sonraithe is gá ina theannta nó ina teannta, aon tráth nó tráthanna laistigh de mhí amháin ó dháta eisiúna an bharántais, ar an mbarántas a thabhairt ar aird má iarrtar amhlaidh—
(a) dul isteach san áitreabh a bheidh ainmnithe sa bharántas, le forneart más gá,
(b) an t-áitreabh sin a chuardach, agus
(c) aon chumhacht den sórt a thuairiscítear i bhfo-alt (2) (b) nó (c) a fheidhmiú i ndáil le daoine agus le taifid, leabhair, doiciméid nó nithe eile a gheofar ag an áitreabh.
Ceanglas faisnéis a chur ar fáil.
34.—(1) Chun a chumasú don Stiúrthóir a fheidhmeanna nó a feidhmeanna a fheidhmiú faoin gCuid seo, féadfaidh an Stiúrthóir—
(a) a cheangal ar aon duine ag a bhfuil, i dtuairim an Stiúrthóra, aon fhaisnéis atá ábhartha maidir le feidhmiú na bhfeidhmeanna sin, nó a bhfuil an céanna faoi chumhacht nó rialú aige nó aici, an fhaisnéis sin a thabhairt don Stiúrthóir, agus
(b) a cheangal, más cuí, ar aon duine den sórt sin freastal os comhair an Stiúrthóra chun na críche sin,
agus comhlíonfaidh an duine an ceanglas dá réir sin.
(2) Féadfar, i gceanglas faoi fho-alt (1), am agus áit a shonrú ag a bhfuil faisnéis le tabhairt nó ag a bhfuil duine le freastal agus más rud é nach mbeidh am nó áit den sórt sin sonraithe sa cheanglas, déanfaidh an duine ar a mbeidh an ceanglas dírithe é a chomhlíonadh a luaithe is indéanta le réasún.
(3) Maidir le duine a gceanglófar air nó uirthi freastal os comhair an Stiúrthóra faoi fho-alt (1) (b)—
(a) freagróidh sé nó sí go hiomlán agus go fírinneach aon cheist a chuirfidh an Stiúrthóir air nó uirthi (seachas ceist a dtiocfadh dá freagra an duine a ionchoiriú), agus
(b) má iarrann an Stiúrthóir air nó uirthi amhlaidh, síneoidh sé nó sí dearbhú maidir le fírinne a fhreagraí nó a freagraí ar aon cheist den sórt sin.
Mainneachtain doiciméid, faisnéis, etc., a sholáthar.
35.—(1) Más dealraitheach don Stiúrthóir nó d'oifigeach comhionannais gur mhainnigh aon duine—
(a) ceanglas faoi alt 33(2)(b), nó
(b) ceanglas faoi alt 34(1),
a chomhlíonadh, ansin, de réir mar is gá sa chás, féadfaidh an Stiúrthóir nó an t-oifigeach comhionannais iarratas a dhéanamh chun na Cúirte Cuarda ar ordú faoin alt seo.
(2) Faoi réir fho-alt (3) más rud é, ar iarratas faoin alt seo, gur deimhin leis an gCúirt Chuarda gur mhainnigh an duine lena mbaineann an ceanglas atá i gceist a chomhlíonadh, féadfaidh an Chúirt Chuarda ordú a dhéanamh á cheangal ar an duine sin an ceanglas a chomhlíonadh.
(3) Más rud é, ar iarratas faoin alt seo, gurb é tuairim na Cúirte Cuarda go n-airbheartaíonn an ceanglas atá i gceist a cheangal ar an duine lena mbaineann—
(a) aon taifead, leabhar, doiciméad nó ní eile a thabhairt ar aird, nó
(b) aon fhaisnéis a thabhairt,
a bhfuil an duine sin i dteideal pribhléid ghairmiúil dlí a éileamh ina leith, déanfaidh an Chúirt Chuarda an ceanglas a chur ar ceal.
Forálacha forlíontacha maidir le faisnéis.
36.—(1) Más rud é, i gcúrsa nó chun críocha aon imscrúdaithe, idirghabhála nó éisteachta faoin gCuid seo, nó aon fhiosrúcháin faoi Chuid V den Acht um Chomhionannas Fostaíochta, 1998, go nochtfaidh aon duine faisnéis don Údarás, don Stiúrthóir nó d'aon duine eile atá i dteideal í a fháil, ní thiocfaidh as an nochtadh go mbeidh aon dliteanas ann (i gconradh, i dtort nó ar shlí eile) ar thaobh an duine a bheidh á dhéanamh.
(2) Ní dhéanfar aon fhaisnéis a thabharfar don Údarás, don Stiúrthóir nó d'aon duine eile, nó a gheobhaidh siad ar shlí eile, de bhua ailt 33 go 35, nó thairis sin i gcúrsa nó chun críocha aon imscrúdaithe, idirghabhála, éisteachta nó fiosrúcháin a dúradh, a fhoilsiú ná a nochtadh ar shlí eile ach amháin—
(a) chun críocha imscrúdaithe, idirghabhála, éisteachta nó fiosrúcháin den sórt sin,
(b) ar ordú na hArd-Chúirte nó na Cúirte Cuarda,
(c) le toiliú an duine a thabharfaidh an fhaisnéis agus aon duine eile lena mbainfidh an fhaisnéis,
(d) i mbreith ón Stiúrthóir a fhoilseofar nó a chuirfear ar fáil faoi alt 30 agus a bhfuil nochtadh na faisnéise ábhartha maidir leis, nó
(e) chun críocha iarratais faoi alt 35.
(3) San alt seo, folaíonn “faisnéis” aon taifead, leabhar, doiciméad nó ní eile ina bhfuil an fhaisnéis.
(4) Aon duine a nochtfaidh faisnéis de shárú ar fho-alt (2), beidh sé nó sí ciontach i gcion.
An Stiúrthóir, etc., a chosc.
37.—(1) Aon duine—
(a) a chuirfidh cosc nó bac ar an Stiúrthóir nó oifigeach comhionannais i bhfeidhmiú cumhachtaí faoin gCuid seo, nó
(b) a mhainneoidh ceanglas de chuid an Stiúrthóra nó oifigigh comhionannais arna thabhairt faoin gCuid seo a chomhlíonadh,
beidh sé nó sí ciontach i gcion.
(2) Aon tagairt i bhfo-alt (1) d'oifigeach comhionannais folaíonn sí tagairt do dhuine a bheidh údaraithe mar a thuairiscítear sa mhíniú ar “oifigeach ainmnithe” in alt 33(1).
Cásanna nach leantar ar aghaidh leo a dhíbhe.
38.—(1) Más rud é go dtarchuirfear cás chuig an Stiúrthóir agus, aon tráth tar éis deireadh bliana amháin ó dháta an tarchurtha, gur dealraitheach don Stiúrthóir nár lean an gearánach ar aghaidh, nó gur scoir sé nó sí de leanúint ar aghaidh, leis an tarchur, féadfaidh an Stiúrthóir an tarchur a dhíbhe.
(2) A luaithe is indéanta tar éis tarchur a dhíbhe, tabharfaidh an Stiúrthóir fógra i scríbhinn faoin díbhe sin don ghearánach agus don fhreagróir.
(3) Más rud é go ndéanfar tarchur a dhíbhe faoin alt seo, ní fhéadfar aon imeachtaí eile a thionscnamh i ndáil leis an tarchur sin, ach ní choisceann aon ní san alt seo ar aon duine tarchur eile a dhéanamh i ndáil leis an ní céanna (faoi réir aon teorann ama is infheidhme).
CUID IV
Údarás Comhionannais
Feidhmeanna breise an Údaráis.
39.—Beidh ag an Údarás, i dteannta na bhfeidhmeanna a shanntar dó le haon fhoráil eile den Acht seo nó le haon Acht eile, na feidhmeanna ginearálta seo a leanas:
(a) oibriú chun deireadh a chur le hiompar toirmiscthe;
(b) comhionannas deiseanna a chur chun cinn i ndáil leis na nithe lena mbaineann an tAcht seo; agus
(c) faisnéis a chur ar fáil don phobal maidir le hoibriú an Achta seo agus oibriú an Achta seo a choinneáil faoi athbhreithniú agus, aon uair is dóigh leis an Údarás gur gá é, tograí a chur faoi bhráid an Aire chun é a leasú;
agus dá réir sin beidh feidhm ag an Acht um Chomhionannas Fostaíochta, 1998, agus beidh éifeacht leis, maille leis na leasuithe a shonraítear sa Sceideal a ghabhann leis an Acht seo.
CUID V
Ginearálta
Caiteachais.
40.—Déanfar aon chaiteachais a thabhófar ag riaradh an Achta seo a íoc, a mhéid a cheadóidh an tAire Airgeadais é, as airgead a sholáthróidh an tOireachtas.
Rialacháin.
41.—(1) Féadfaidh an tAire rialacháin a dhéanamh chun éifeacht a thabhairt don Acht seo, lena n-áirítear rialacháin lena bhforordófar foirmeacha agus an fhaisnéis a bheidh in aon fhógra a bheidh le húsáid chun aon chríche faoin Acht seo.
(2) Féadfaidh an tAire le rialacháin na nithe seo a leanas a shonrú i gcásanna nach ndéantar aon socrú eile chuige sin le rialacháin faoin Acht seo nó faoin Acht um Chomhionannas Fostaíochta, 1998—
(a) nósanna imeachta a leanfaidh an Stiúrthóir nó, de réir mar a bheidh, an Chúirt Oibreachais le linn feidhmeanna a chur i gcrích faoin Acht seo nó faoin Acht um Chomhionannas Fostaíochta, 1998, agus
(b) teorainneacha ama is infheidhme maidir le feidhmeanna den sórt sin a chur i gcrích, lena n-áirítear nósanna imeachta chun na teorainneacha sin a fhadú in imthosca áirithe,
ach, sula ndéanfaidh sé nó sí aon rialacháin den sórt sin—
(i) i gcás aon rialachán den sórt sin a bhaineann le feidhmeanna na Cúirte Oibreachais, rachaidh an tAire i gcomhairle leis an Údarás agus leis an gCúirt Oibreachais agus gheobhaidh sé nó sí toiliú an Aire Fiontar, Trádála agus Fostaíochta, agus
(ii) in aon chás eile, rachaidh an tAire i gcomhairle leis an Údarás agus leis an Stiúrthóir.
(3) Gach rialachán a dhéanfar faoin Acht seo leagfar é faoi bhráid gach Tí den Oireachtas a luaithe is indéanta tar éis a dhéanta agus, má dhéanann ceachtar Teach acu sin, laistigh den 21 lá a shuífidh an Teach sin tar éis an rialachán a leagan faoina bhráid, rún a rith ag neamhniú an rialacháin, beidh an rialachán ar neamhní dá réir sin, ach sin gan dochar do bhailíocht aon ní a rinneadh roimhe sin faoin rialachán.
(4) Féadfar cibé forálacha iarmhartacha, forlíontacha agus coimhdeacha a mheasfaidh an tAire is gá nó is fóirsteanach a bheith in aon rialachán a dhéanfar faoin Acht seo.
Dliteanas ionadach.
42.—(1) Aon ní a dhéanfaidh duine i gcúrsa a fhostaíochta nó a fostaíochta, déileálfar leis chun críocha an Achta seo, in aon imeachtaí a thionscnófar faoin Acht seo, mar ní arna dhéanamh ag fostóir an duine sin freisin, cibé acu a bhí nó nach raibh a fhios ag an bhfostóir go raibh sé á dhéanamh nó cibé acu a cheadaigh nó nár cheadaigh an fostóir é.
(2) Aon ní a dhéanfaidh duine mar ghníomhaire do dhuine eile, le húdarás (cibé acu sainráite nó intuigthe agus cibé acu arna thabhairt roimh an ní a dhéanamh nó dá éis) ón duine eile sin, déileálfar leis chun críocha an Achta seo, in aon imeachtaí a thionscnófar faoin Acht seo, mar ní arna dhéanamh ag an duine eile sin freisin.
(3) In imeachtaí a thionscnófar faoin Acht seo in aghaidh fostóra i leith gnímh a líomhnaítear a bheith déanta ag fostaí de chuid an fhostóra, is cosaint don fhostóir a chruthú gur ghlac an fostóir cibé bearta ab indéanta le réasún chun an fostaí a chosc—
(a) ar an ngníomh sin a dhéanamh, nó
(b) ar ghníomhartha den tuairisc sin a dhéanamh i gcúrsa a fhostaíochta nó a fostaíochta.
Cionta i gcoitinne.
43.—(1) Maidir le haon duine atá ciontach i gcion faoi aon fhoráil den Acht seo dlífear—
(a) ar é nó í a chiontú go hachomair, fíneáil nach mó ná £1,500 nó príosúnacht ar feadh téarma nach faide ná bliain amháin, nó iad araon, a chur air nó uirthi, nó
(b) ar é nó í a chiontú ar díotáil, fíneáil nach mó ná £25,000 nó príosúnacht ar feadh téarma nach faide ná 2 bhliain, nó iad araon, a chur air nó uirthi.
(2) Má leantar tar éis an chiontaithe den sárú ar ina leith a chiontaítear duine i gcion faoi aon fhoráil den Acht seo, beidh an duine ciontach i gcion breise ar gach lá ar a leanfar den sárú agus, in aghaidh gach ciona den sórt sin, dlífear, ar é nó í a chiontú go hachomair, fíneáil nach mó ná £250 nó, ar é nó í a chiontú ar díotáil, fíneáil nach mó ná £1,500, a chur air nó uirthi.
Forálacha a bhaineann le cion.
44.—(1) Féadfaidh an tAire nó an tÚdarás imeachtaí achoimre i leith ciona faoi aon fhoráil den Acht seo a thionscnamh.
(2) Más rud é, maidir le cion faoin Acht seo a rinne comhlacht corpraithe, go gcruthófar go ndearnadh é le toiliú nó le cúlcheadú, nó gurb inchurtha é i leith aon fhaillí ar thaobh, aon duine ar stiúrthóir, bainisteoir, rúnaí nó oifigeach eile den tsamhail sin de chuid an chomhlachta chorpraithe a bhí ann nó inti nuair a rinneadh an cion, nó duine a d'airbheartaigh a bheith ag gníomhú in aon cháil den sórt sin, beidh an duine sin, chomh maith leis an gcomhlacht corpraithe, ciontach i gcion agus dlífear imeachtaí a thionscnamh ina choinne nó ina coinne agus é nó í a phionósú amhail is dá mbeadh sé nó sí ciontach sa chion a rinne an comhlacht corpraithe.
(3) I gcás gurb iad comhaltaí comhlachta chorpraithe a bhainistíonn gnóthaí an chomhlachta sin, tá feidhm ag fo-alt (2) amhail is dá mba thagairt do chomhalta den chomhlacht corpraithe an tagairt san fho-alt sin do stiúrthóir.
(4) D'ainneoin alt 10(4) den Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act, 1851, féadfar imeachtaí achoimre i leith ciona faoi aon fhoráil den Acht seo a thionscnamh laistigh de 12 mhí ó dháta an chiona.
Dlínse cúirte.
45.—Maidir leis an dlínse a thugtar don Chúirt Chuarda nó don Chúirt Dúiche in imeachtaí faoin Acht seo, breitheamh den Chúirt sin a bheidh sannta de thuras na huaire don chuaird nó, de réir mar a bheidh, don dúiche ina bhfuil gnáthchónaí ar an gcosantóir nó ina seolann sé nó sí aon ghairm, gnó nó slí bheatha, a fheidhmeoidh í.
Feidhm an Achta.
46.—(1) Beidh feidhm ag forálacha an Achta seo, agus éifeacht leo, i leith aon loinge nó aerárthaigh atá cláraithe sa Stát agus a bheidh á hoibriú nó á oibriú ag duine a bhfuil príomháit ghnó aige nó aici sa Stát nó a bhfuil gnáthchónaí air nó uirthi sa Stát, cibé acu atá nó nach bhfuil an long nó an t-aerárthach lasmuigh den Stát.
(2) Aon ghníomh—
(a) a dhéantar ar long nó aerárthach den sórt sin, nó i leith loinge nó aerárthaigh den sórt sin, le linn di nó dó a bheith faoi réir dlínse tíre lasmuigh den Stát, agus
(b) a cheanglaítear a dhéanamh chun dlí na tíre sin a chomhlíonadh,
ní idirdhealú é chun críocha an Achta seo.
Leasú ar an Acht um Chomhionannas Fostaíochta, 1998.
47.—Déantar an tAcht um Chomhionannas Fostaíochta, 1998, a leasú leis seo tríd an alt seo a leanas a chur isteach i ndiaidh alt 105:
“Foráil idirlinne. | 106.—(1) Beidh feidhm ag an alt seo maidir le héileamh ar shásamh faoi achtachán aisghairthe— (a) a dhéanfar ar thosach feidhme Chuid VII (an ‘dáta thosach feidhme’) nó dá éis, agus (b) ar achtachán aisghairthe é (i) nach mbaineann ach le hiompar roimh an dáta thosach feidhme, nó (ii) a bhaineann le hiompar roimh an dáta sin agus dá éis. (2) San alt seo— ciallaíonn ‘dáta thosach feidhme’ an 18ú lá de Dheireadh Fómhair, 1999; ciallaíonn ‘iompar’ iompar a líomhnaítear a tharla; ciallaíonn ‘achtachán aisghairthe’ an tAcht in aghaidh Idirdhealú (Pá), 1974, nó an tAcht um Chomhionannas Fostaíochta, 1977. (3) Aon éileamh ar shásamh lena mbaineann an t-alt seo— (a) maidir le hábhar an éilimh— (i) má bhaineann an t-éileamh le hiompar roimh an dáta thosach feidhme, nó a mhéid a bhaineann sé leis, déileálfar leis amhail is nach raibh an t-achtachán lena mbaineann aisghairthe, agus (ii) a mhéid a bhainfidh an t-éileamh le hiompar i ndiaidh an dáta sin, déileálfar leis faoin Acht seo, agus (b) ar gach slí eile, déileálfar leis amhail is gurbh éileamh é faoi alt 77. (4) Chun críocha fho-alt (3)— (a) déanfar an t-éileamh lena mbaineann a tharchur nó a thabhairt chuig an Stiúrthóir, an Chúirt Oibreachais nó an Chúirt Chuarda, de réir mar is cuí, agus (b) beidh feidhm ag Cuid VII i ndáil leis, maille leis an modhnú nach mbeidh feidhm ag ailt 76 agus 82 i ndáil le cás dá dtagraítear i mír (a)(i) den fho-alt sin agus maille le haon mhodhnuithe eile is gá. (5) Aon éileamh ar shásamh faoi achtachán aisghairthe atá ar feitheamh ar an dáta thosach feidhme, déileálfar leis, má tharlaíonn an t-iompar lena mbaineann sé tar éis an dáta sin freisin, amhail is gurbh éileamh ar shásamh lena mbaineann an t-alt seo a bhí ann, agus beidh feidhm ag fo-ailt (3) agus (4) i ndáil leis dá réir sin. (6) Féadfar agus, ar iarratas ón éilitheoir, déanfar, más cuí, cinntí ar leithligh i ndáil le hiompar roimh an dáta thosach feidhme, agus dá éis, a shonrú i mbreith nó cinneadh ar éileamh ar shásamh dá dtagraítear san alt seo. (7) Féadfaidh an Stiúrthóir nó duine a cheapfar faoi alt 75(4)(a) chun bheith ina oifigeach comhionannais nó ina hoifigeach comhionannais cumhachtaí oifigigh comhionannais faoi achtachán aisghairthe a fheidhmiú. (8) Measfar gur tháinig an t-alt seo i ngníomh ar an dáta thosach feidhme.”. |
Tosach feidhme.
48.—Tiocfaidh an tAcht seo i ngníomh cibé lá a shocrófar le hordú a dhéanfaidh an tAire, agus féadfar laethanta éagsúla a shocrú amhlaidh le haghaidh forálacha éagsúla agus chun críoch éagsúil.
AN SCEIDEAL
Leasú ar an Acht um Chomhionannas Fostaíochta, 1998
Leasaítear leis seo an tAcht um Chomhionannas Fostaíochta, 1998—
(a) in alt 2(1) (léiriú), tríd an méid seo a leanas a chur isteach—
(i) i ndiaidh an mhínithe ar “míchumas”:
“folaíonn ‘idirdhealú’, i gCodanna V agus VI, iompar toirmiscthe de réir bhrí an Achta um Stádas Comhionann, 2000, agus forléireofar focail ghaolmhara dá réir sin;”, agus
(ii) i ndiaidh an mhínithe ar “ceardchumann”:
“ciallaíonn ‘Lucht Siúil’ an pobal daoine dá ngairtear sin go coitianta agus a shainaithnítear (acu féin agus ag daoine eile) mar dhaoine ag a bhfuil stair, cultúr agus traidisiúin i bpáirt, lena n-áirítear, go stairiúil, saol fánaíochta ar oileán na hÉireann;”,
(b) in alt 6 (idirdhealú), trí “Lucht Siúil” a chur in ionad “lucht siúil” sa dá áit a bhfuil sé i bhfo-alt (2)(i),
(c) in alt 12 (gairmoiliúint)—
(i) trí “Gan dochar d'alt 3 d'Acht na nDídeanaithe, 1996, ní fhágfaidh aon ní i bhfo-alt (1)” a chur in ionad “Ní fhágfaidh aon ní i bhfo-alt (1)” agus “oideachais” a chur in ionad “gairme” i bhfocail tosaigh fho-alt (7),
(ii) trí “do chúinsí traidisiúin nó staire, nó” a chur in ionad “do chúinsí traidisiúin nó staire.” i bhfo-alt (7)(b), agus
(iii) tríd an mír seo a leanas a chur isteach:
“(c) i gcás, maidir le hollscoil nó foras tríú leibhéal eile, nach ionann an chóir a chuirfidh sé ar fáil le linn ionaid ar aon chúrsa den sórt sin a leithroinnt ar mhic léinn aibí (de réir bhrí na nAchtanna um Údaráis Áitiúla (Deontais Ardoideachais), 1968 go 1992).”,
(d) in alt 28 (comparadóirí), trí “Lucht Siúil” a chur in ionad “lucht siúil” sa dá áit a bhfuil sé i bhfo-alt (1)(h),
(e) in alt 33 (gníomhaíocht dhearfach a cheadú), trí “Lucht Siúil” a chur in ionad “lucht siúil” i bhfo-alt (1)(c),
(f) in alt 44 (gnáthchomhaltaí an Údaráis), trí “Lucht Siúil” a chur in ionad “lucht siúil” i bhfo-alt (1)(c),
(g) in alt 56 (cóid chleachtais)—
(i) trí na míreanna seo a leanas a chur in ionad mhíreanna (a) agus (b) d'fho-alt (1):
“(a) deireadh a chur le hidirdhealú; agus
(b) comhionannas deiseanna i bhfostaíocht a chur chun cinn agus i ndáil leis na nithe lena mbaineann an tAcht um Stádas Comhionann, 2000.”, agus
(ii) trí “nó faoi Chuid III den Acht um Stádas Comhionann, 2000” a chur isteach i bhfo-alt (4), i ndiaidh “faoi Chuid VII”,
(h) in alt 59 (faisnéis etc. a fháil chun críocha fiosrúcháin), tríd an mír seo a leanas a chur in ionad mhír (b) d'fho-alt (3):
“(b) go gcreideann an tÚdarás maidir le duine a bheidh ainmnithe i dtéarmaí tagartha an fhiosrúcháin lena mbaineann an fógra—
(i) go bhfuil idirdhealú déanta nó á dhéanamh aige nó aici,
(ii) go bhfuil alt 8(4) nó 10(1) sáraithe nó á shárú aige nó aici,
(iii) go bhfuil mainneachtain déanta nó á déanamh aige nó aici clásal comhionannais nó téarma luach saothair chomhionainn a chomhlíonadh, nó
(iv) go bhfuil alt 12(1) (fógraíocht thoirmiscthe) den Acht um Stádas Comhionann, 2000, sáraithe aige nó aici.”,
(i) in alt 61 (moltaí a éiríonn as fiosrúcháin agus tuarascálacha ar fhiosrúcháin), tríd an bhfo-alt seo a leanas a chur in ionad fho-alt (1):
“(1) Tar éis dó fiosrúchán faoi alt 58 a sheoladh, nó i gcúrsa fiosrúcháin den sórt sin, féadfaidh an tÚdarás moltaí a éireoidh as an bhfiosrúchán a dhéanamh d'aon duine, lena n-áirítear an tAire, d'fhonn ceachtar d'fheidhmeanna ginearálta an Údaráis a shonraítear i míreanna (a) agus (b) d'alt 39 nó, de réir mar is cuí, i míreanna (a) agus (b) d'alt 39 den Acht um Stádas Comhionann, 2000, nó an dá fheidhm acu, a chur chun cinn.”
(j) in alt 62 (fógraí neamh-idirdhealúcháin), tríd an mír seo a leanas a chur in ionad mhír (b) d'fho-alt (1):
“(b) go bhfuil alt 8(4) nó 10(1) nó alt 12(1) den Acht um Stádas Comhionann, 2000, sáraithe nó á shárú aige nó aici, nó”,
(k) in alt 63 (achomharc in aghaidh fógra neamhidirdhealúcháin)—
(i) tríd an bhfo-alt seo a leanas a chur in ionad fho-alt (1):
“(1) Faoi réir fho-alt (6), féadfaidh duine ar ar seirbheáladh fógra neamh-idirdhealúcháin achomharc a dhéanamh chun na Cúirte Oibreachais, laistigh de 42 lá ó dháta na seirbheála, in aghaidh an fhógra nó aon cheanglais de chuid an fhógra.”,
agus
(ii) trí na fo-ailt seo a leanas a chur leis:
“(6) I gcás go mbaineann fógra neamhidirdhealúcháin le hiompar toirmiscthe de réir bhrí an Achta um Stádas Comhionann, 2000, nó le sárú ar alt 12(1) den Acht sin, féadfaidh an duine ar ar seirbheáladh an fógra achomharc a dhéanamh chun na Cúirte Dúiche, agus chun na críche sin déanfar tagairtí san alt seo don Chúirt Oibreachais a fhorléiriú mar thagairtí don Chúirt Dúiche.
(7) Maidir le dlínse na Cúirte Dúiche faoin alt seo, is breitheamh den Chúirt sin a bheidh sannta de thuras na huaire don dúiche chúirte dúiche ina bhfuil gnáthchónaí ar an duine ar ar seirbheáladh an fógra neamh-idirdhealúcháin nó ina seolann sé nó sí aon ghairm, gnó nó slí bheatha, a fheidhmeoidh í.”,
(l) in alt 67 (cúnamh ón Údarás i dtaca le tarchuir áirithe), tríd an bhfo-alt seo a leanas a chur in ionad fho-alt (1):
“(1) Aon duine a mheasfaidh—
(a) go bhfuil idirdhealú dírithe i gcoinne an duine ag duine eile,
(b) go ndearnadh dochar dó nó di mar thoradh ar mhainneachtain nó diúltú ag duine eile—
(i) clásal comhionannais nó téarma luach saothair chomhionainn a chomhlíonadh,
(ii) breith, ordú nó cinneadh faoin gCuid seo nó faoi Chuid III den Acht um Stádas Comhionann, 2000, a chur i ngníomh nó
(iii) socraíocht idirghabhála faoi alt 78 nó faoi alt 24 den Acht sin a chur i ngníomh,
nó
(c) gur club idirdhealaitheach de réir bhrí alt 8 den Acht sin club dá dtagraítear san alt sin,
féadfaidh sé nó sí iarraidh a dhéanamh chuig an Údarás ar chúnamh chun imeachtaí a thionscnamh a bhforáiltear do shásamh ina leith faoin Acht seo nó faoin Acht sin nó, de réir mar a bheidh, chun iarratas a dhéanamh chuig an gCúirt Dúiche faoi alt 8(3) den Acht sin.”,
(m) in alt 68 (míniú (Cuid VI)), trí “faoi alt 71(3)” a scriosadh agus “, nó ag an gCúirt Dúiche, faoi alt 71” a chur ina ionad,
(n) in alt 69 (athbhreithnithe agus pleananna gníomhaíochta comhionannais)—
(i) trí “i bhfostaíocht” a scriosadh i bhfo-alt (1)(a),
(ii) trí “an ghnó sin nó na ngnóthaí sin, atá sa ghnó sin nó sna gnóthaí sin, agus atá ábhartha maidir leis nó leo” a chur in ionad “na fostaíochta sin, atá san fhostaíocht sin agus atá ábhartha maidir léi,” agus “sa ghnó sin nó sna gnóthaí sin” a chur in ionad “san fhostaíocht sin” i bhfo-alt (1)(b),
(iii) trí “i bhfostaíocht” a scriosadh agus “sa ghnó sin nó sna gnóthaí sin” a chur in ionad “san fhostaíocht sin” i bhfo-alt (2),
(iv) tríd an bhfo-alt seo a leanas a chur isteach i ndiaidh fho-alt (2):
“(2A) In athbhreithniú comhionannais nó i bplean gníomhaíochta comhionannais a bhaineann le nithe atá faoi rialú ag an Acht seo agus ag an Acht um Stádas Comhionann, 2000, araon déileálfar ar leithligh leis na nithe sin, agus déileálfar leis na codanna ar leithligh den athbhreithniú nó den phlean, chun críocha na Coda seo, mar athbhreithniú comhionannais nó mar phlean gníomhaíochta comhionannais.”,
(v) trí “i bhfostaíocht” a scriosadh i bhfo-alt (6), agus
(vi) tríd an bhfo-alt seo a leanas a chur in ionad fho-alt (7):
“(7) Chun críocha an ailt seo:
(a) folaíonn ‘gnó’—
(i) gníomhaíocht as a dtagann fostaíocht, cibé acu is sa réimse tionsclaíoch nó sa réimse tráchtála nó nach ea, agus cibé acu d'fhonn brabús a dhéanamh nó nach ea, agus
(ii) faoi réir chlásal (II) den fhomhír seo, soláthraí seirbhíse (de réir bhrí alt 4(6) den Acht um Stádas Comhionann, 2000) do sholáthar seirbhísí, agus dá réir sin beidh feidhm ag an alt seo i ndáil leis na seirbhísí sin a sholáthar maille leis na modhnuithe seo a leanas—
(I) go bhforléireofar an tagairt i bhfo-alt (1)(a) do ghnó áirithe mar thagairt a fholaíonn tagairt do sheirbhísí áirithe a sholáthar, agus
(II) go bhforléireofar na tagairtí i bhfo-ailt (4) agus (5) do ghnó mar thagairtí a fholaíonn tagairtí do sholáthraí seirbhíse (de réir bhrí an ailt sin 4(6), seachas mír (f) de),
agus aon mhodhnuithe eile is gá;
(b) féadfar ‘grúpa gnóthaí’ a mhíniú faoi threoir suímh gheografaigh in ionad (nó i dteannta) é a mhíniú faoi threoir cúrsaí rialaithe nó aon toisce eile.”,
(o) in alt 70(1)(a) (cumhachtaí forfheidhmithe i leith athbhreithnithe agus pleananna gníomhaíochta comhionannais) trí “is faisnéis” a chur isteach roimh “a bheidh ag teastáil”, agus
(p) in alt 71 (achomharc in aghaidh fógra shubstaintigh)—
(i) tríd an bhfo-alt seo a leanas a chur in ionad fho-alt (1):
“(1) Faoi réir fho-alt (6), féadfaidh duine ar ar seirbheáladh fógra substainteach achomharc a dhéanamh chun na Cúirte Oibreachais, laistigh de 42 lá ó dháta na seirbheála, in aghaidh an fhógra nó aon cheanglais de chuid an fhógra.”,
agus
(ii) trí na fo-ailt seo a leanas a chur isteach i ndiaidh fho-alt (5):
“(6) I gcás go mbaineann fógra substainteach le hathbhreithniú comhionannais nó le plean gníomhaíochta comhionannais, nó le hathbhreithniú nó plean beartaithe den sórt sin, a bhaineann le nithe atá faoi rialú ag an Acht um Stádas Comhionann, 2000, féadfaidh an duine ar ar seirbheáladh an fógra achomharc a dhéanamh chun na Cúirte Dúiche in aghaidh an fhógra, agus chun na críche sin déanfar tagairtí san alt seo don Chúirt Oibreachais a fhorléiriú mar thagairtí don Chúirt Dúiche.
(7) Maidir le dlínse na Cúirte Dúiche faoin alt seo, is breitheamh den Chúirt sin a bheidh sannta de thuras na huaire don dúiche chúirte dúiche ina bhfuil gnáthchónaí ar an duine ar ar seirbheáladh an fógra substainteach nó ina seolann sé nó sí aon ghairm, gnó nó slí bheatha, a fheidhmeoidh í.”.