Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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150. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the steps being taken to reduce inequality in the workplace; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51414/18]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Lead responsibility for the Employment Equality Acts 1998-2015 rests with the Minister for Justice and Equality and any steps being taken to reduce inequality in the workplace would be a policy matter for the Minister and his Department.

The Employment Equality Acts 1998–2015 that fall under the remit of the Minister for Justice and Equality, outlaw discrimination at work including recruitment and promotion; equal pay; working conditions; training or experience; dismissal and harassment including sexual harassment. It prohibits discrimination on nine specified grounds: gender, civil status, family status, age, race, religion, disability, sexual orientation and membership of the Traveller community.

Insofar as my Department is concerned, the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) is an independent, statutory body which was established on 1st October 2015 under the Workplace Relations Act 2015. The WRC’s core services include the inspection of employment rights compliance, the provision of information, adjudicating on complaints under employment protection, equality and industrial relations legislation and the provision of mediation, conciliation, facilitation and advisory services. Any person who believes that s/he has experienced discrimination which is contrary to the Employment Equality Acts may seek redress by referring a complaint to the Director General of the WRC. A case may be lodged through the Workplace Relations Commission’s website at www.workplacerelations.ie.