Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome this amendment and it is good to have the role of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission strengthened. That is welcome. I agree that by adding the High Court to the Circuit Court, it gives the legislation additional seriousness and a greater standing. I also welcome the inclusion of the Workplace Relations Commission and the Labour Court. From my own experience of working for a union, they are in general more worker-friendly forums as opposed to a court, although they may not have always seemed like that at times. It is important nonetheless to have the court there also as a sort of backup and, as the Minister said, to highlight the seriousness of the legislation. As a first step it is good for people to be able to deal with the Workplace Relations Commission or the Labour Court. I welcome this amendment and will be supporting it.

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