Financial settlements negotiated by the Employment Equality Agency on behalf of workers who have been discriminated against were about five times greater than settlements recommended by the Labour Court, its assistant chief executive, Mr Brian Merriman, claimed yesterday.
The average settlement the agency negotiated last year was £15,000, while the highest was £30,000, he said.
"We are not just talking about money, but about helping people who have been treated badly to create a situation where both the perpetrator and the victim can work together again."
For every case which went to the Labour Court, another three or four were resolved by the EEA. However, the employee was successful in just 28 per cent of cases before the Labour Court.
Mr Merriman said this reflected the extent to which the Employment Equality Act, 1977, was a "tired" piece of legislation.