Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The power to deal with cases by way of written submissions only is already provided for in equality legislation. Section 70(2)(a) of the Employment Equality Acts of 1998 to 2011 empowers the director of the Equality Tribunal to propose to the parties concerned that suitable cases be dealt with on the basis of written submissions only and without the need for a hearing to the director of the WRC. The parties in such a case are currently afforded the opportunity to make written representations in response to any such proposal by the director. If either party objects to the matter being dealt with on the basis of written submissions only, the director is prohibited from investigating the case in that manner and a hearing would be scheduled. The right of parties to object in such circumstances will also be replicated in the Workplace Relations Bill. Based on the experience of the Equality Tribunal, it is envisaged that this power would only be used very sparingly by the director general. Therefore I will not accept the amendment.