Traveller family wins case against beauty salon
FLAC (Free Legal Advice Centres) has called for “urgent action” to remove a ban on legal aid for cases heard by bodies such as the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC).
The organisation’s chief executive Eilis Barry was commenting after the WRC issued decisions on discrimination cases taken against a beauty salon by a Traveller mother and her two daughters, represented by FLAC.
The commission has ordered the beauty salon to pay €500 to each of the three complainants, in compensation for discrimination against them as Travellers. have been anonymised because two of the complainants are minors.
‘Stark reminder’
A WRC hearing had heard that the family were asked to pay for their treatments in advance, while other customers were not, while one of the complainants was shouted at by the owner and manager of the salon.
“These decisions are a stark reminder of the barriers and discrimination that Travellers constantly face in accessing services that the general population take for granted. The family showed great bravery and resilience in taking these complaints,” said Barry.
The FLAC chief executive said that the absence of legal aid for victims of discrimination who take cases to the WRC meant that it was “impossible” for many people to challenge discrimination and to access compensation for its effects.
Code of practice
Barry called for “urgent action” to remove this ban, on foot of the recently published review of the Civil Legal Aid scheme.
The FLAC chief executive prepared for the review, arguing that the majority report “does not sufficiently reflect that the system of public legal assistance is in crisis”.
She added that FLAC would also would welcome a code of practice on access to goods and services from the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission to provide shops, pubs, and all retail services with detailed guidance on their responsibilities under equality legislation.