€7,500 in compensation has been awarded to a woman who was asked by a Minister about her family circumstances in a job interview.

Minister of State John Halligan asked the female public servant if she was married and had children.

The woman took a case to the Workplace Relations Commission which found that she had been discriminated against under the Employment Equality Act.

The Public Service Executive Union represented the woman and says it beggars believe that 40 years after the first equality act, anybody would think it acceptable to ask such questions.