Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
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To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the 2012 figures for the number of complaints lodged with the Equality Tribunal under the Equal Status Acts 2000-2011; the number of complaints withdrawn; the number of complaints referred to mediation; the number of complaints settled at mediation; the number of complaints referred to investigation, hearing and decision; the number of decisions reached. [4401/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The information sought by the Deputy in regard to complaints referred to the Equality Tribunal in 2012 under the Equal Status Acts 2000-2012 is as follows:

New complaints were referred in respect of 133 lead/grouped cases.

6 of these complaints were subsequently withdrawn, 4 during mediation with the mediator involved and 2 while awaiting investigation.

Invitation to mediation issued in respect of 93 of these cases, accepted by parties in 69 cases.

Of these 69 cases, 24 complaints were settled at mediation - by mediation agreement in 20 cases and by withdrawal of the complaint in 4 cases as outlined above. Mediation is still ongoing in 27 cases.

In total, 80 of the 133 new cases referred in 2012 have been referred to investigation, hearing and decision. This includes cases in which mediation was not accepted and cases not resolved at mediation which then proceeded to investigation. Investigation is still ongoing in 53 cases.

In 2012, decisions were issued in 46 cases on conclusion of investigation and hearing, 3 of which related to complaints referred in 2012.