The Labour Court overturned a €10,000 award to a worker who said a fisheries board failed to fit hand controls to a work vehicle. The Court allowed the board’s appeal and found it had not discriminated on the disability ground. Its determination was signed on 15 November 2004.
The Southern Regional Fisheries Board said it had accommodated the worker by relieving him of driving duties, and that his request for an adapted vehicle was not pursued after he was told he could travel as a passenger. The worker said he had asked for hand controls and the board failed to act. The Court found the board was put on notice of his request in October 2001, but concluded that he was not required to drive, the arrangement was not shown to cause difficulty and he did not return to active employment after 2002. It held that the board had not breached its duty to accommodate, set aside the Equality Officer’s decision and award, and found no disability discrimination.