€20k award for age discrimination

A Solas employee who says he was asked, in a job promotion interview, “Do you think, at this stage, that you should be taking it easier”, has been awarded €20,000 for discrimination.

The Workplace Relations Commission heard that Dave Barry had worked for the organisation as an information technology instructor since 1985.

He was interviewed for the position of assistant manager in the Limerick Training Centre on April 14, 2014. Mr Barry, who was aged 60 at the time, said one of the interview panel, Ms C — a member of Limerick Clare Education and Training Board — asked him: “Do you think, at this stage, that you should be taking it easier?”