Irish Rail confirm that they have discriminated against gay passengers

[Commuticon]

In my earlier thread about Irish Rail obeying the law which legislates for discrimination against gay people by refusing to let gay couples avail of partner free travel pass (which has been inexplicably closed) Mark Gleeson made the following statement

No case exists to challenge Irish Rail, since no passengers in this case have been refused, they might be which is totally different.

That statement is false.

In an interview with Suzy Byrne, Barry Kenny of Iarnrod Eireann was asked

Have you any incidence of same sex couples attempting travel on one of these passes since 2004 and committing revenue offences?

Yes, there have been a number of such instances.

Therefore passengers have been refused.

It is unacceptable for www.railusers.ie to say 'Oh that's the law. It sucks but there's nothing which can be done about it' .

Isn't Railusers.ie a group which is for Irish Rail Users? Are gay commuters not rail users? If the government tried to discriminate against black commuters in the same manner as they are discriminating against gay commuters would the response be the same?

People need to write to Irish Rail at info@irishrail.ie to tell them they are boycotting Irish Rail until this mess is fixed.

And mail Minister for Social Welfare to tell her the same. Her address is info@welfare.ie or mary.hanafin@oireachtas.ie

[Mark Gleeson]

We hare received no complaints from anyone directly effected by this decision made by Irish Rail. We cannot react to hearsay. If someone contacts us with a complaint they will receive the fullest possible support we can provide in resolving the issue.

Our advice remains contact the pass issuer the Dept. of Family and Social Affairs or what ever it is called today, they issued the pass.

The comments from Mr Kenny are news to us, however we do not have the full context on the quotation, passengers have been refused, did they have valid passes? Irish Rail can refuse anyone anytime for no reason.

Law is a matter for the oireachtas to decide upon, your elected TD's decide on your behalf. This is a much wider issue that rail safety act and railway byelaws we deal with.

The moderators closed the thread due to the legal nature of the content, do not reopen threads. Moderators decisions are final. This thread also closed.

[Thomas J Stamp]

In my earlier thread about Irish Rail obeying the law which legislates for discrimination against gay people by refusing to let gay couples avail of partner free travel pass (which has been inexplicably closed) Mark Gleeson made the following statement



That statement is false.

In an interview with Suzy Byrne, Barry Kenny of Iarnrod Eireann was asked



Therefore passengers have been refused.

It is unacceptable for www.railusers.ie (http://www.railusers.ie) to say 'Oh that's the law. It sucks but there's nothing which can be done about it' .

Isn't Railusers.ie a group which is for Irish Rail Users? Are gay commuters not rail users? If the government tried to discriminate against black commuters in the same manner as they are discriminating against gay commuters would the response be the same?

People need to write to Irish Rail at info@irishrail.ie to tell them they are boycotting Irish Rail until this mess is fixed.

And mail Minister for Social Welfare to tell her the same. Her address is info@welfare.ie or mary.hanafin@oireachtas.ie

We'd support the law being changed, sure. Personally I think that the law in this respect is pre-historic, backwards, disgraceful, stone-aged, reactionary and typical of the malign influences that still permeate certain corridorrs of Irish Society. I doubt you'll find anyone here disagrees with you.

But, boycotting Irish Rail isnt the answer, because Irish Rail cannot change the situation. Only the Department of Social Welfare can, so lobby them, and lobby your own TD's and Senators.

The reason why I locked the other thread is because of this. You've made your point well, but you have to understand that Irish Rail really dont like us very much and would love to say that we stated they acted illegaly which we haven't.