Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 45:

In page 42, line 2, after "may," to insert "in cases not relating to the Act of 1998 or the Act of 2000,".

This is a simple provision. The parties to the claim can refuse to have the matter dealt with by way of written submission but equality advocates argue that under equality legislation, this is another hill to climb for highly vulnerable complainants. It may deflect a complainant from proceeding. Equality advocates have also warned that the provision could be in breach of Article 47 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, EU equal treatment directives and Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights.