SEXUAL harassment, refusal to treat women partners in firms as equals, and denial of services to travellers and people with disabilities are prohibited in the Equal Status Bill, published yesterday by the Minister for Equality and Law Reform, Mr Taylor.
A Director of Equality Investigations is to be appointed to hear complaints and to grant up to £5,000 compensation to people suffering discrimination.
The Bill was welcomed by the Irish Traveller Movement, which said yesterday was a historic day for Ireland. "Many travellers believed they would never see this Bill," Mr Thomas McCann of the ITM said. It was also welcomed by the Disability Federation of Ireland, which warned that resources would have to be provided to implement it fully.
Although public attention has focused on such issues as the refusal of service to travellers by publicans and hoteliers, the Bill has far wider application. Sexual harassment and bullying are prohibited. Discrimination by landlords is also banned.
Banned, too, is discrimination by clubs - such as golf clubs - which face the loss of their drinks licences if they refuse equal treatment to women, people with disabilities and other groups.
Partners in firms will no longer be allowed to discriminate against other partners. A law firm or accountancy practice will not be allowed to offer less favourable terms to women partners or to give them only low-status work. Schools must not discriminate against students of a particular religion, race or gender unless the discrimination "is essential to maintain the ethos of the school."
The general rule laid down in the Bill is that people must not act in a discriminatory manner in providing a service. A general exception is made where providing a service to people with disabilities or any other group would cause "undue difficulty," as might, for example, arise where special arrangements would cause disruption to the existing service or where the service provider would have difficulty meeting the necessary cost.
Another exception is made for publicans where it is stipulated that if they refuse to serve a person "for the sole purpose of ensuring compliance with the provisions of the Licensing Acts, 1833 to 1955" this will not be regarded as discrimination.
But Mr Taylor said yesterday that in such a case the publican would have to show the refusal of service was necessary for this purpose.