Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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39. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the reasons the Workplace Relations Commission is currently the agency dealing with cases of discrimination in the private rental market; and her views on the appropriateness of such. [33145/16]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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As indicated in my previous to the Deputy's Question (Question 138 of 18 October last), the functions of the former Equality Tribunal (both in relation to discrimination regarding employment and in the provision of services) became the functions of the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) on the merger of the Equality Tribunal and other bodies to form that Commission. I regard as appropriate that the WRC should continue to deal with the full range of issues relating to discrimination. This includes alleged discrimination in relation to the provision of Housing Assistance Payment and rent allowance as provided for in the Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2015. I do not propose to change those arrangements. It is important to understand that there will be no relationship of landlord and tenant between the parties in a case where a prospective tenant alleges discrimination on the basis of being or not being in receipt of either of the payments specified and the Residential Tenancies Board would therefore not be the appropriate body for such cases.

Members of the public may obtain advice from the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission if they feel that they have been discriminated against contrary to equality legislation, including advice on how to take a claim to the WRC, which provides a free and accessible adjudication service.