Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 14 January 2026
134. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will clarify the policy rationale for the proposed provision in the Equality and Family Leaves (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025 that would transfer discrimination cases relating to licensed premises from the District Court to the Workplace Relations Commission; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2738/26]
View answer135. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the consultation that has taken place with representative bodies for licensed premises regarding the proposed transfer of jurisdiction for discrimination cases to the WRC; and if she will provide details of such engagement. [2739/26]
View answer136. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether an impact assessment has been conducted on the potential legal, financial and operational implications for licensed premises arising from the proposed change in forum for discrimination cases; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2740/26]
View answer137. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether she will consider introducing safeguards, exemptions or a review mechanism within the Equality and Family Leaves (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025 to address concerns raised by licensed premises regarding the proposed jurisdictional change. [2741/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 134 to 137, inclusive, together.
In November 2024, Government approved the publication of the General Scheme of the Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024, which includes a number of legislative provisions arising from a review of Ireland’s equality legislation. The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Equality undertook pre-legislative scrutiny of the General Scheme and issued its report in October 2025. Officials in this Department are considering the recommendations of the report.
As part of the review, the Department invited written submissions to a public consultation. A report summarising the key issues raised was published in July 2023 and is available at assets.gov.ie/static/documents/equality-acts-review_-summary-of-submissions.pdf. As noted in that report, a significant number of submissions commented on section 19 of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2003.
The General Scheme has been informed by the submissions received in the review process, by additional stakeholder consultations on some of the complex issues arising, as well as by recent Private Members’ Bills, academic research, and requirements under EU Equality Directives.
Section 19 of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2003 provides that where a person considers that they have been discriminated against on or at the point of entry to a licensed premises, they must apply to the District Court (rather than the Workplace Relations Commission) for redress. The decision to transfer such claims to the District Court introduced inconsistency in how discrimination claims are treated in Ireland. Concerns have been raised by the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance regarding the barriers that this inconsistency creates.
The General Scheme proposes to repeal section 19 of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2003. Work is ongoing on drafting of the bill. Department officials will continue to examine key policy proposals and potential additions such as review clauses. The regulatory impact assessment will be updated as work continues.
