Courts / Cork / Report
Re-Turn Ireland fails in bid to have blind man's discrimination case thrown out
Summary
Re-Turn Ireland has failed in a bid to have a discrimination case brought by Pat McCarthy thrown out at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC). The tribunal issued a preliminary ruling rejecting the respondent's application to dismiss the claim as misconceived. Mr McCarthy, a blind man, alleged he is disadvantaged by the deposit return scheme because he cannot read markings indicating whether containers are included. He stated that at an Aldi store in Carrigtwohill, Co Cork, he was unable to locate or use a reverse vending machine or identify the Re-Turn logo. Re-Turn Ireland, trading as Deposit Return Scheme Ireland CLG, denied the statutory complaint under the Equal Status Act 2000. Its lawyers argued the WRC lacked jurisdiction and that Re-Turn was not providing a service to the public, but merely managing the scheme as a government-approved body. Adjudication officer Brian Dalton found it "very clear" that the respondent determines how the scheme works, prescribes logos and bar codes, and approves reverse vending machines. He concluded that Mr McCarthy made out an arguable case that the body is providing a service by prescribing how the scheme is accessed. The complaint was found not to be misconceived and will be set down for a hearing of the substantive matter.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Re-Turn Ireland fails in bid to have blind man's discrimination case thrown out. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision
When:
- 2025-06-26 Publication
Why: The claimant, Pat McCarthy, has alleged he is disadvantaged by the scheme because he cannot read the markings indicating whether or not a drink container is included in the scheme. CNI source report
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