Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

The European Communities (Burden of Proof in Gender Discrimination Cases) Regulations 2001 give effect to Council Directive 97/80/EC on the burden of proof in cases of discrimination based on sex. The regulation applies to gender discrimination cases taken under the Employment Equality Act 1998 and the Maternity Protection Act 1994. The Maternity Protection (Amendment) Bill 2003 will revoke part of the regulations with respect to maternity discrimination cases and will re-enact the relevant provisions. The Equality Bill revokes and re-enacts the relevant provisions of the regulations with respect to the Employment Equality Act. The inclusion of the phrase "IN PART" is required while both Bills are before the Oireachtas.