Courts / Longford / Report

Start-up founders allegedly told 'didn't have enough diversity' fail in claim against EI for second time

Date
2024-03-22
Stage
Charge Or Pretrial
Primary locality
Longford
County
Longford

Summary

Three business founders from Longford have had their discrimination claim against Enterprise Ireland dismissed by the Workplace Relations Commission for a second time. Mark Keenan, Michael O'Reilly and Robert Yorke, who own the sharing economy platform LendRB Ltd, alleged they were told during a 2022 funding interview that they "didn't have enough diversity". The complainants sought to proceed on the basis that discrimination occurred against them as individuals rather than the corporate entity. However, adjudicating officer Niamh O'Carroll found the new complaint was identical to a previous claim already rejected in 2023 on statutory grounds. Ms O'Carroll noted the matter had been ruled statute-barred and that a corporate entity cannot refer an equality claim under legislation. The founders indicated their intention to pursue the matter to the Labour Court.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Start-up founders allegedly told 'didn't have enough diversity' fail in claim against EI for second time. Procedural stage: charge_or_pretrial

When:

Why: Three start-up founders who accused Enterprise Ireland of discrimination because they were allegedly told they "didn't have enough diversity" during an interview for State investment have seen their case rejected by the Workplace Relations Commission for a second time. CNI source report

Case subjects

Enterprise Ireland

Applicant

Mark Keenan

Applicant

Michael O'Reilly

Applicant

Robert Yorke

Applicant

Places mentioned

Secondary Mention
Facility
  • Bangkok hospital

Topics

Stage Charge Or Pretrial

Related court reports

Read the original CNI report

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