The Workplace Relations Commission found that Eithne Lannon was not discriminated against on age or gender grounds when she was passed over for principal at North Bay Educate Together National School. The decision was dated 8 November 2023.
Lannon, who had more than 35 years’ teaching experience and over 20 years as deputy principal, argued that appointing a younger male candidate was discriminatory. The school’s board said the successful candidate gave stronger interview answers and a clearer vision for the role.
The adjudication officer found that Lannon’s experience raised an initial inference of discrimination. But the officer accepted the board’s explanation: all five interview panel members gave the successful candidate higher marks, and their reasons for the scoring were convincing. A five-point change to Lannon’s score would not have altered her ranking.
The officer concluded that age and gender did not influence the selection decision. Under employment equality law, an initial inference means the circumstances appeared to point to discrimination, shifting the burden to the employer to explain its decision. The officer found that the board had rebutted that inference.