Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 213: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will confirm that the European Commission has raised concerns with the Irish authorities regarding the Government's transposition into Irish law of the EC Directive on equal treatment between persons without racial and ethnic discrimination in employment and the social sector (details supplied); the principal issues involved; and the status of the Commission's challenge. [19401/07]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I refer the Deputy to Parliamentary Question No. 184 of Wednesday 4 July 2007 and the written reply to that Question. I have nothing further to add to that reply.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 214: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will confirm that the European Commission has raised concerns with him regarding the Government's transposition into Irish law of the EC Directive on the general framework for equal treatment in employment and work conditions (details supplied); if so, the principal issues involved; and the status of the Commission's challenge. [19402/07]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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Discrimination is prohibited in Irish law on nine grounds, including disability, age, sexual orientation and religious belief, under the Employment Equality Acts 1998 to 2007 and the Equal Status Acts 2000 to 2004, in the employment area and in access to and supply of goods and services, respectively.

The Equality Act 2004 enacted amendments to the Employment Equality Act 1998 in order to fully transpose Council Directive 2000/78/EC, which established a general framework for equal treatment in employment and occupation.

The State has been engaged in correspondence with the European Commission regarding Ireland's transposition of this Directive into national law and is assisting the Commission with various queries it has raised concerning the interpretation of the Employment Equality Acts. Most queries raised to date have been dealt with.

The Commission has by way of formal notice sought further details on a number of minor technical issues. The State has furnished clarification as requested for the Commission to review at its convenience.