Equality Tribunal award against Car Hire Firm

goulders

Equality Tribunal award against Car Hire Firm

The Equality tribunal has made an award against the car hire company Enterprise-Rent-A-Car , in a case brought by a disabled driver. Ciaran Goulding tried to hire a car in 2006, following an accident in which his own car was written off. He requested an automatic car with hand controls. Enterprise-Rent-A-Car were unable to facilitate Mr Goulding at that time.

Mr Goulding’s insurance company told him he could hire a car temporarily under the terms of his policy. As a result he rang a number of car hire firms but he failed to secure a suitable car with any of the firms he contacted. “I was very surprised, and disappointed, a majority of persons contacting car hire firms could be accommodated, but as a person with a disability (MS), no suitable car was available”.

As he felt that this was discrimination on disability grounds, he contacted the Equality Tribunal and lodged a complaint against each of the firms he contacted, seven in all. The seven cases were heard over the past few months and this is the first ruling. “I felt that this was a bigger issue than just one company not complying with the Equality Legislation, it was a car hire industry problem” said Ciaran.

ENTERPRISE-RENT-A-CAR on receiving the original complaint, immediately acquired hand controls for a number of their vehicles and have rented out 30 such vehicles since 2006. The Equality Tribunal in making its award took this into consideration. Mr Goulding says he felt the case was very fairly dealt with by Enterprise and the Equality Tribunal.

The full report on this case is available on the equality tribunal website
(click the following link)

http://www.equalitytribunal.ie/index.asp?locID=165&docID=2095