# C_2012311EN.01000502.xml

| 13.10.2012 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 311/5 |
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Reference for a preliminary ruling from The Equality Tribunal (Ireland) made on 30 July 2012 — Z v A Government Department and the Board of Management of a Community School

(Case C-363/12)

2012/C 311/06

Language of the case: English

Referring court

The Equality Tribunal

Parties to the main proceedings

Applicant: Z

Defendants: A Government Department and the Board of Management of a Community School

Questions referred

| 1. | Having regard to the following provisions of the primary law of the European Union:
(i)
Article 3 of the Treaty on European Union, (ii)
Articles 8 and 157 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and/or (iii)
Articles 21, 23, 33 and 34 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union
Is Directive 2006/54/EC, and in particular Articles 4 and 14 thereof, to be interpreted as meaning that there is discrimination on the ground of sex where a woman — whose genetic child has been born through a surrogacy arrangement, and who is responsible for the care of her genetic child from birth — is refused paid leave from employment equivalent to maternity leave and/or adoptive leave? | (i) | Article 3 of the Treaty on European Union, | (ii) | Articles 8 and 157 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and/or | (iii) | Articles 21, 23, 33 and 34 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union
Is Directive 2006/54/EC, and in particular Articles 4 and 14 thereof, to be interpreted as meaning that there is discrimination on the ground of sex where a woman — whose genetic child has been born through a surrogacy arrangement, and who is responsible for the care of her genetic child from birth — is refused paid leave from employment equivalent to maternity leave and/or adoptive leave? |
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| (i) | Article 3 of the Treaty on European Union, | | | | | | |
| (ii) | Articles 8 and 157 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and/or | | | | | | |
| (iii) | Articles 21, 23, 33 and 34 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union
Is Directive 2006/54/EC, and in particular Articles 4 and 14 thereof, to be interpreted as meaning that there is discrimination on the ground of sex where a woman — whose genetic child has been born through a surrogacy arrangement, and who is responsible for the care of her genetic child from birth — is refused paid leave from employment equivalent to maternity leave and/or adoptive leave? | | | | | | |

| 2. | If the answer to the first question is in the negative, is Directive 2006/54/EC( 1 ) compatible with the above provisions of the primary law of the European Union? |
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| 3. | Having regard to the following provisions of the primary law of the European Union:
(i)
Article 10 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and/or (ii)
Articles 21, 26 and 34 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union
Is Directive 2000/78/EC( 2 ), and in particular Articles 3(1) and 5 thereof, to be interpreted as meaning that there is discrimination on the ground of disability where a woman — who suffers from a disability which prevents her from giving birth, whose genetic child has been born through a surrogacy arrangement, and who is responsible for the care of her genetic child from birth — is refused paid leave from employment equivalent to maternity leave and/or adoptive leave? | (i) | Article 10 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and/or | (ii) | Articles 21, 26 and 34 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union
Is Directive 2000/78/EC( 2 ), and in particular Articles 3(1) and 5 thereof, to be interpreted as meaning that there is discrimination on the ground of disability where a woman — who suffers from a disability which prevents her from giving birth, whose genetic child has been born through a surrogacy arrangement, and who is responsible for the care of her genetic child from birth — is refused paid leave from employment equivalent to maternity leave and/or adoptive leave? |
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| (i) | Article 10 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and/or | | | | |
| (ii) | Articles 21, 26 and 34 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union
Is Directive 2000/78/EC( 2 ), and in particular Articles 3(1) and 5 thereof, to be interpreted as meaning that there is discrimination on the ground of disability where a woman — who suffers from a disability which prevents her from giving birth, whose genetic child has been born through a surrogacy arrangement, and who is responsible for the care of her genetic child from birth — is refused paid leave from employment equivalent to maternity leave and/or adoptive leave? | | | | |

| 4. | If the answer to the third question is in the negative, is Directive 2000/78/EC compatible with the above provisions of the primary law of the European Union? |
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| 5. | Is the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities capable of being relied on for the purposes of interpreting, and/or of challenging the validity, of Directive 2000/78/EC? |
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| 6. | If the answer to the fifth question is in the affirmative, is Directive 2000/78/EC, and in particular Articles 3 and 5 thereof, compatible with Articles 5, 6, 27(1)(b) and 28(2)(b) of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities? |
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( 1 )  Directive 2006/54/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 July 2006 on the implementation of the principle of equal opportunities and equal treatment of men and women in matters of employment and occupation (recast)

OJ L 204, p. 23

( 2 )  Council Directive 2000/78/EC OF 27 November 2000 establishing a general framework for equal treatment in employment and occupation

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