Equality Officer Raymund Walsh found that Dublin Coporation discriminated against Breege Murphy on grounds of sex in a Rate Collector promotion competition. In a recommendation dated 21 March 2000, he recommended £2,000 compensation for distress. The case listing spells the respondent’s name “Dublin Coporation”; the decision text refers to Dublin Corporation.
Murphy, a Rates Inspector who had also acted as a Rate Collector, was placed third behind two men in the 1997 panel. She said her experience and qualifications were stronger and that she had previously been offered the post. Dublin Corporation said the selection process was fair and objective.
Walsh found an objective basis for the marks for education and experience, and no evidence that placing Candidate A first was discriminatory. Candidate B, however, had no acting experience. Given Murphy’s Rates Inspector experience and her higher ranking than both men in an earlier competition, Walsh found sufficient evidence that placing Candidate B ahead of her was discriminatory. He noted that only one appointment was made and Murphy would not have been appointed even if ranked second, and recommended compensation rather than appointment.