Headnotes
Equal Status Act, 2000 - Direct discrimination, Section 3(1)(a) - Traveller Ground3(2)(i) -Disposal of goods and supply of services, Section 5(1) - Prima facie case.
1. Dispute
1.1 This dispute concerns claims by William, Mary, Anthony and Nancy Corcoran that on 16 February 2003, they were treated in a discriminatory manner by a member of the respondent's staff. The complainants each referred a claim to the Director of Equality Investigations under the Equal Status Act 2000. In accordance with her powers under section 75 of the Employment Equality Act 1998 and under the Equal Status Act 2000, the Director then delegated the cases to me, Dolores Kavanagh, an Equality Officer, for investigation, hearing and decision and for the exercise of this and other relevant functions of the Director under Part III of the Equal Status Act.
2. Outcome of Hearing - Prima Facie Case
2.1 The complainants did not attend at the scheduled Hearing of their complaints on 19 April 2006. As the complainants were not present at the Hearing they failed to establish a prima facie case of discrimination on grounds of membership of the Traveller community under the Equal Status Act 2000.
3 Decision
The complainants have not established a prima facie case of discrimination on the Traveller community ground. I find therefore in favour of the respondent.
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Dolores Kavanagh
Equality Officer
19 April, 2006