Race remains the largest category of cases being dealt with by the Equality Authority in the area of discrimination in employment, according to its annual report which is to be published today.
Minister for Justice Michael McDowell will launch the report, which also details support given to businesses which are promoting diversity among their workforces and ensuring accessibility to their services.
The report refers to a survey carried out by the Central Statistics Office during the year, which found that 12.5 per cent of the adult population had experienced some form of discrimination, either in relation to work or services, over the past two years. Nine per cent had experienced discrimination in relation to services, and over 5 per cent in relation to work, with some experiencing both.
According to the chief executive of the Equality Authority, Niall Crowley, this underlines the need for a well-resourced equality infrastructure, that can help develop a culture of compliance with the equality legislation. This makes it illegal to discriminate against a person at work or in the provision of services on the grounds of race, age, gender, disability, religion, marital status, family status, sexual orientation or membership of the Travelling community.
He pointed out that delays in the appointment of equality officers to the Equality Tribunal, the tribunal that hears and adjudicates on claims of discrimination, had led to delays of up to three years in the assignment of an officer to assess and hear a case.
"The transfer of dismissal claims to the Equality Tribunal means that inevitably with the current delays, the remedy of reinstatement is far less likely," the report states. "EU equality law requires that remedies have to be effective, proportionate and dissuasive.
"Unfortunately the current situation in the Equality Tribunal means that the remedies are not effective, simple, swift and sustained mechanisms for enforcement and are limiting the capacity to create a culture of compliance with the legislation."
There were 11,474 enquiries to the Equality Authority in 2005, according to the report. Those relating to the Employment Equality Acts were up 18 per cent, and those relating to the Equal Status Acts were up 6 per cent.
The authority had 954 active case-files, reflecting priorities established by the board. These were evenly divided between the Employment Equality Act and the Equal Status Act, with 37 files under the Intoxicating Liquor Act, where publicans were alleged to have breached anti-discrimination legislation.
While race remains the largest category of people experiencing discrimination at work, members of the Travelling community were again the most likely to experience discrimination in the provision of services. This included allegations of discrimination in access to schools, licensed premises, shops and accommodation.
There was also continuing discrimination in both work and services against people with disabilities, and women at work were still experiencing problems, especially relating to pregnancy.
Mr Crowley said there had been a very positive response from business to its scheme to offer support and training in relation to diversity, to the extent that its budget for this work was used up by May.
The authority also reported a positive response from the HSE and the Department of Health in putting in place an institutional infrastructure to tackle discrimination and promote equal access.