The Minister for Justice and Garda Commissioner have brought a High Court action claiming the Equality Tribunal is not legally entitled to determine complaints that the upper age limit of 35 for joining the Garda amounts to age discrimination.
The Minister and the Commissioner today secured leave to bring judicial review proceedings aimed at preventing the tribunal hearing the claims next month.
The Equality Authjority is a notice party to the action.
Mr Justcie Michael Peart also granted a stay on the tribunal hearing, due to take place on August 8th next.
In that hearing, three people are claiming they are being discriminated against on grounds of age because they are over 35 and therefore not entitled to join the force.
In their challenge, the Minister and Commissioner are seeking a declaration that the tribunal has no jurisdiction to determine the validity of legislation covering the maximum age limit for entry into the Garda Siochana.