The Labour Court upheld the rejection of David Pryle’s race discrimination claim against Gaeltec Utilities Limited, finding that he had not established a case of discrimination. It signed its determination on 22 September 2014, disallowing Pryle’s appeal against the Equality Tribunal’s decision.
Pryle’s appeal concerned his application for a Lines Person job. He argued that preferring Portuguese speakers disadvantaged Irish applicants. Gaeltec said Portuguese was not required and that Pryle lacked the necessary high-voltage lines experience.
The Court noted that the two applicants called for interview were Irish nationals and did not speak Portuguese. It found no basis for Pryle’s claim that the language preference indirectly discriminated against him on grounds of nationality.