When you experience discrimination, you can do something about it.
Ireland’s equality laws protect individuals from certain kinds of discrimination, harassment and sexual harassment. They aim to promote:
- Equal work opportunities, for example when applying for work, while in a job, going for a promotion or getting equal pay.
- Equal treatment when accessing goods, services, facilities and accommodation, for example when using public services, looking for housing, getting the bus, going to school or college, or going to the pub.
The Employment Equality Acts and Equal Status Acts prohibit discrimination on specific grounds. Generally, discrimination occurs where one person is treated less favourably than another person in a comparable situation, because they differ under any of the following grounds: Age, Civil Status, Disability, Family Status, Gender, Membership of the Traveller Community, Race, Religion, Sexual Orientation. The Housing Assistance Payment ground applies under the Equal Status Acts only.
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If you feel you have been discriminated against, use the step-by-step guide below to understand how to claim your rights. This guide is for information purposes only. For legal advice, you should consult a qualified legal professional. Information last updated on 1 October 2021.
