Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I am of the view that the strengthening we have just agreed to under amendment No. 13, by giving those extra powers to IHREC to take a case to the High Court to ensure that, where IHREC so believes the seriousness and the egregiousness, perhaps, of the breach of the legislation of these reporting provisions by a particular employer warrants going to the High Court and that very significant sanction, both legally and from a publicity point of view, in a ruling of contempt of court by the High Court, is a significant enough enforcement power and, as such, I am not inclined to accept the amendment by the Deputy. This is a very significant additional power, which is not just enforcement through the Circuit Court but also enforcement through the High Court, and which we are giving to IHREC, which we all recognise to be an independent body and the expert on human rights and equality provision in the country. It is best placed to make determinations in terms of pursuing enforcement actions under this legislation. I am not proposing to accept the amendment.

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