Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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93. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the prohibitions in place to prevent public officials or public authorities from imposing certain requirements contrary to the religious beliefs or moral convictions of employees in the public service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17223/16]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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Equality legislation prohibits discrimination in employment and in the provision of goods and services on the basis of nine grounds, including that of religion. Public servants are obliged to operate within the law regardless of their own religious beliefs or moral convictions and may not discriminate on grounds prohibited in the legislation. There is no exemption which enables a public servant to avoid the fulfilment of the obligations of their office on the grounds of religious or other beliefs. I should make the point, however, that I have no Ministerial responsibility in relation to either the codes of governance of public sector organisations or personnel management issues in the public sector.