Number 24 of 2004

AN ACT TO AMEND THE EMPLOYMENT EQUALITY ACT 1998, PENSIONS ACT 1990 AND EQUAL STATUS ACT 2000 FOR THE PURPOSE OF MAKING FURTHER AND BETTER PROVISION IN RELATION TO EQUALITY OF TREATMENT IN THE WORKPLACE AND ELSEWHERE; TO GIVE EFFECT TO COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 2000/43/EC OF 29 JUNE 2000 IMPLEMENTING THE PRINCIPLE OF EQUAL TREATMENT BETWEEN PERSONS IRRESPECTIVE OF RACIAL OR ETHNIC ORIGIN, COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 2000/78/EC OF 27 NOVEMBER 2000 ESTABLISHING A GENERAL FRAMEWORK FOR EQUAL TREATMENT IN EMPLOYMENT AND OCCUPATION AND DIRECTIVE 2002/73/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL OF 23 SEPTEMBER 2002 AMENDING COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 76/207/EEC ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PRINCIPLE OF EQUAL TREATMENT FOR MEN AND WOMEN AS REGARDS ACCESS TO EMPLOYMENT, VOCATIONAL TRAINING AND PROMOTION, AND WORKING CONDITIONS; AND TO REVOKE IN PART AND ENACT IN RESPECT OF PROCEEDINGS UNDER THIS ACT THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES (BURDEN OF PROOF IN GENDER DISCRIMINATION CASES) REGULATIONS 2001, WHICH GAVE EFFECT TO COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 97/80/EC OF 15 DECEMBER 1997 [OJ No. L14, 20.01.1998, p.6] ON THE BURDEN OF PROOF IN CASES OF DISCRIMINATION BASED ON SEX.

[18th July 2004]

BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS: