Enterprise Ireland told start-up they 'didn’t have enough diversity', founders allege

Three founders of a Longford-based start-up have brought discrimination complaints against Enterprise Ireland at the Workplace Relations Commission, alleging they were told by a funding panel representative that their venture "didn't have enough diversity" when seeking backing under the Competitive Start Fund. Mark Keenan, Michael O'Reilly and Robert Yorke, owners of sharing economy platform LendRB Ltd, are pursuing claims under the Employment Equality Act 1998 and the Equal Status Act 2000. At a preliminary hearing, Enterprise Ireland contested jurisdiction, arguing the matter had been previously ruled upon and that no employment relationship existed between the parties. The company also contended that only one founder's name appeared on the funding application form. The complainants maintained they experienced discrimination as individuals and that their relationship with Enterprise Ireland extended beyond a simple funding application. The case has a history before the tribunal, with an earlier complaint concerning the rejection of the funding application in May 2022.