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

This is another belt and braces amendment. It is intended to ensure that all complaints and disputes referred to a rights commissioner prior to the commencement of Part 4 of this Bill when enacted can be decided by an adjudication officer who was, immediately prior to the commencement, a rights commissioner. The additional subsection (10) specifically provides that in respect of such complaints and disputes, the adjudication officer to whom they are assigned will continue to perform the functions vested in him or her as a rights commissioner under the relevant legislation. This is necessary to ensure that the parties' in question legitimate expectations and legal entitlements that existed on the date the complaint was referred are respected. Amendments Nos. 140 and 148 are linked and do the same in respect of the equality and equal status sections.

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