The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) found that a hotel indirectly discriminated against a Traveller by refusing him a stay because he and his wife had no credit card. It awarded him €500 and ordered the hotel to allow reasonable alternative forms of security.
The hotel said its credit-card policy applied to all guests and aimed to protect against damage and unpaid charges. The WRC accepted that protecting the property was a legitimate aim, but found the hotel had not shown that a credit card was necessary or that it had reasonably considered alternatives such as cash or a preauthorised debit-card payment. The decision was dated 8 August 2023. The separate race-ground complaint was withdrawn at the hearing.