Gender discrimination in the workplace is the most common complaint dealt with by the Equality Authority, according to its third annual report published today.
Gender-related issues accounted for a third of all such cases, with pregnancy-related discrimination common.
"It is somewhat disappointing that pregnancy discrimination, and in particular pregnancy-related dismissals, appears as a significant issue in the cases that are dealt with by the Authority," said the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Mr Michael McDowell, at this morning's launch.
"However, the fact that during 2002 women who were dismissed because of pregnancy successfully sought redress under the Employment Equality Act in the Labour Court is heartening," he said.
Discrimination on grounds of race accounted for almost a quarter of all cases. This was followed by that of disability, accounting for 20.6 per cent of complaints.
According to the report, discrimination suffered by non-nationals in the workplace includes inequal pay, excessive working hours, denial of maternity rights, lack of holiday pay, harassment and dismissal.
But the Minister said: "It is a significant..that the number of cases taken on by the Authority in relation to the Traveller...under the Equal Status Act dropped considerably in 2002. This, perhaps, points to a maturing of attitudes on behalf of all sides in relation to this issue".
The Equality Authority was set up under anti-discrimination legislation that outlaws discrimination on nine grounds: gender, marital and family status, race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, age, and membership of the Travelling community.
Labour Party Justice spokesman, Mr Joe Costello, voiced his concern at the rise in cases of discrimination revealed in the Equality Authority's report.
"The Equality Authority reveals that discrimination claims have risen by nearly 20% in the last year. This is a disturbing indication of the type of society we are becoming," said Mr Costello. "Clearly, we have failed to conquer discrimination in attitudes to gender equality and towards the travelling community, whilst cases taken on the grounds of race are also increasing."