The Equality Tribunal has seen an increase in the number of women dismissed from work because they are pregnant, the body’s annual report has revealed.
In the report published this morning, the tribunal said it decided 28 per cent more cases in 2004 than in the previous year.
While it did not give a figure for the number of pregnancy-related cases taken, the tribunal said a "significant slice" of its employment equality cases refer to discriminatory dismissals, "mainly on the gender ground and frequently involving pregnancy".
The tribunal saw a rise of 53 per cent in the number of cases of alleged discrimination in employment on the grounds of age last year. There was an increase of 46 per cent in employment equality on the grounds of race.
"The prevalence of recruitment and promotion cases on the gender ground is perhaps surprising, given the number of cases decided by both ourselves and the Labour Court which set out clearly the elements that need to be in place to provide a fair and non-discriminatory process," said Melanie Pine, director of the Equality Tribunal.
In employment equality cases, the tribunal awarded some €339,559 in the 35 per cent of cases where the equality officer found in the claimant’s favour.
Under equal status legislation on access to goods and services, the number of claims on the grounds of age, disability and gender increased. However, the tribunal witnessed "a very substantial drop" in the number of claims on the grounds of membership of the Traveller community.
The tribunal increased its output in 2004, deciding 50 per cent more employment equality cases and 30 per cent equal status cases. A further 59 cases were resolved at mediation.
In 2004 the tribunal made its biggest ever award in one case where the claimant was awarded €127,362. This claim was appealed but settled before the appeal was determined. The average award was over €14,000.
Melanie Pine said: "Our work is important in the evolution of equality. Our process ensures that people who make a claim get a fair hearing, as do the people and parties who respond to claims.
"It doesn’t have to cost either party money as we don’t charge and they don’t have to have legal representation. An equality officer will consider the evidence and then issue a written decision."
Speaking on the publication of the report, the Minister for Justice paid tribute to the "successful and valuable work of the tribunal in providing redress in equality cases".
Mr McDowell said: "As a result of the tribunal’s work in 2004, public attention was brought to cases of racism in the provision of services, to cases of sexual harassment in employment and to cases of discrimination on the gender ground in relation to appointments to positions of responsibility."