The Irish Council for Civil Liberties has accused the Minister for Justice of bowing to pressure from publicans in proposed changes to the application of the Equal Status Act.
Mr Michael McDowell was due to brief an Oireachtas committee on the proposed changes to the legislation today. The changes will see discrimination cases involving licensed premises transferred from the Equality Tribunal to district courts.
Ms Aisling Reidy, Director of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties said: "Government has given in to a lobby group to simply undermine the enforcement mechanisms of discrimination law."
Speaking on RTÉ Radio, Ms Reidy said the "proposal to remove the jurisdiction of the Equality Tribunal fundamentally changes the Equal Status Act and its enforcement mechanism."
"Every single service and goods provider is subject to the jurisdiction of the Equality Tribunal if they engage in discriminatory practices. Now what the Minister is saying, for some reason of which we have had no justification, is that publicans should be treated differently."
She said the Equal Status Act in its current form makes specific provisions for the protection of a licencee under section 15.
Mr McDowell has introduced the planned changes as part of his drawing up of the Intoxicating Liquor Bill.
A spokesman for the Minister said the proposed change was recommended last December by the Government-appointed Liquor Licensing Commission.
Eleven other equality groups have said they are opposed to the Minister's planned changes to the Equal Status Act.