Employment Equality Act, 1977

Discrimination for the purposes of this Act.

2.—For the purposes of this Act, discrimination shall be taken to occur in any of the following cases—

(a) where by reason of his sex a person is treated less favourably than a person of the other sex,

(b) where because of his marital status a person is treated less favourably than another person of the same sex,

(c) where because of his sex or marital status a person is obliged to comply with a requirement, relating to employment or membership of a body referred to in section 5, which is not an essential requirement for such employment or membership and in respect of which the proportion of persons of the other sex or (as the case may be) of a different marital status but of the same sex able to comply is substantially higher,

(d) where a person is penalised for having in good faith—

(i) made a reference under section 19 or under section 7 of the Act of 1974,

(ii) opposed by lawful means an act which is unlawful under this Act or the Act of 1974,

(iii) given evidence in any proceedings under this Act or the Act of 1974, or

(iv) given notice of an intention to do anything referred to in subparagraphs (i) to (iii),

and cognate words shall be construed accordingly.