WRC rejects Dominick Hewitt’s discrimination complaint over Coppersmith classes

The Workplace Relations Commission found Dominick Hewitt’s discrimination complaint against Clondalkin Travellers Training Enterprise And Employment Development Co. Ltd not well founded. The decision, dated 26 October 2023, concerned his exclusion from Coppersmith classes. Hewitt, who worked under the organisation’s CE scheme, said he was refused places on classes in November 2022 and March 2023 because he was not a member of the Traveller Community. The organisation said the programme was funded specifically for the Traveller Community and separately from CE scheme funding. The adjudicator found Hewitt had not established a prima facie case of discrimination. The organisation did not attend the hearing but had sent written representations, which the adjudicator considered.