Labour Court finds age unfairly influenced fishery officer selection

In 1998, the Labour Court found that the Northern Regional Fisheries Board had taken a worker’s age into account to his detriment when selecting temporary seasonal fishery officers, and that this was unfair. It recommended £1,000 compensation and a new open competition for the 1999 panel. The worker had worked seasonally in the Falcarragh area and was not selected after a 1996 recruitment process. The union said age was the only reason given. The Board cited candidates’ qualifications, fisheries knowledge, experience and sea patrol safety requirements. The Court said fitness could not be judged by age alone, but it could not say the worker would have been appointed if age had been disregarded. The recommendation was dated 23 November 1998.