HSE promotion discrimination complaint not upheld

The Workplace Relations Commission did not uphold a race discrimination complaint by senior medical scientist Paulinus Obinwanne Okafor over a promotion at Our Lady’s Hospital, Navan. The decision was dated 12 July 2023. Mr Okafor said he had been treated less favourably on racial grounds in the promotion process. The HSE denied discrimination and said the process involved oversight and confusion about eligibility. The adjudication officer found that the colleague Mr Okafor said had been promoted ahead of him had not received the post. The officer found no evidence of discriminatory treatment and concluded that Mr Okafor had not established a prima facie case, meaning enough initial evidence to support his allegation. The complaint was found not well-founded and was not upheld. The officer did not award compensation.