Three in five cases brought in Ireland last year under legislation to combat discrimination in the workplace were on grounds of gender, according to figures published today.
Of 202 cases brought by the Equality Authority under the Employment Equality Act 1998, 120 concerned discrimination on grounds of gender, 27 were on grounds of disability, 22 were age-related, 15 were linked to race and 10 were in connection with sexual orientation.
In its annual report, the 20-month-old body said it was "no surprise" that there were so many complaints of gender discrimination, given there was now 20 years of experience in the issue.
But it added: "It is surprising and regrettable that sexual harassment and pregnancy-related discrimination are still so prevalent."
Nearly 90 per cent of gender discrimination cases involved women and complaints most commonly related to unequal pay, dismissal due to pregnancy and sexual harassment.
Decisions were reached in just 11 cases, six of which were won and five lost. Access to employment is more likely to be the problem for those complaining of discrimination on the grounds of age, disability and race.
Dismissal is the major issue in cases taken on grounds of sexual orientation, the authority said.
The report added: "The Equality Authority has sought to establish why there is low level of cases under the race ground and sexual orientation ground in particular.
"A reluctance to identify and draw attention to oneself has been suggested as an explanation for low take-up in these areas."
Of all inquiries made to the state body in 2000, one quarter were in connection with maternity leave and the same number concerned paternity leave, with the rest in connection with two recent pieces of legislation - the Employment Equality Act 1998 and the Equal Status Act 2000.
The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Mr O’Donoghue said at the launch of the report that the authority was responsible for implementing "one of the most modern and comprehensive models of anti-discrimination legislation in the EU".
But he conceded: "Much work still needs to be done in terms of equality of opportunity between men and women.
"Racism and racial discrimination in employment and in the delivery of goods and services must be defeated in order to promote a culture which openly values and accommodates difference and cultural diversity."
The authority, established in October 1999, provides information on a raft of equality legislation brought into effect since 1994.
PA