Ireland: Employment and HR

Under this Act, if an employee has an employment contract with a mandatory retirement age that is lower than the State pension age (currently 66) (State Pension Age), the employee has the right to notify their employer that they do not consent to retire at that earlier age. The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) has also updated its Code of Practice on Longer Working (Code) to reflect what employers and employees need to do under the Act.

The legislative framework governing agency workers in Ireland, the Protection of Employees (Temporary Agency Work) Act 2012 (the “2012 Act”) has been in place for almost 15 years but continues to be an area that generates questions...

Arthur Cox's Pensions Group provides a comprehensive summer update covering critical developments in Irish pensions law, including the commencement of the Employment (Contractual Retirement Ages) Act 2025, new automatic enrolment regulations, enhanced XBRL reporting requirements, and significant updates from the Pensions Authority, Revenue, and recent case law that will impact how pension schemes operate and how trustees fulfill their governance obligations.

Employment law and immigration law intersect with discrimination protections in complex ways, particularly around right to work requirements and recruitment policies. This article examines how Irish employers can navigate these overlapping legal frameworks while managing the practical challenges of hiring non-EEA nationals who require employment permits.

The Pay Transparency Directive (Directive) aims to strengthen the principle of equal pay for equal work or work of equal value between men and women and expands upon current Gender Pay Gap (GPG) reporting requirements. Pay transparency measures introduced by the Directive will empower workers to access information to challenge pay inequality within an organisation.

This comprehensive employment law update examines critical WRC decisions from August 2026, including substantial awards for pregnancy discrimination, parent's leave violations, and disability accommodation failures. The analysis also covers the Government's proposed Leave for Pregnancy Loss Bill and highlights emerging compliance risks around minimum wage, working time records, and fair dismissal procedures.

The Tax Appeals Commission has ruled on a case involving pension arrears paid years after they were earned, determining how such lump-sum payments should be taxed under Irish law. The decision addresses whether backdated pension payments should be taxed in the year they relate to or the year they are actually received, with significant implications for taxpayers receiving delayed retirement benefits.

Under this Act, if an employee has an employment contract with a mandatory retirement age that is lower than the State pension age (currently 66) (State Pension Age), the employee has the right to notify their employer that they do not consent to retire at that earlier age. The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) has also updated its Code of Practice on Longer Working (Code) to reflect what employers and employees need to do under the Act.

Arthur Cox's Pensions Group provides a comprehensive summer update covering critical developments in Irish pensions law, including the commencement of the Employment (Contractual Retirement Ages) Act 2025, new automatic enrolment regulations, enhanced XBRL reporting requirements, and significant updates from the Pensions Authority, Revenue, and recent case law that will impact how pension schemes operate and how trustees fulfill their governance obligations.

The legislative framework governing agency workers in Ireland, the Protection of Employees (Temporary Agency Work) Act 2012 (the “2012 Act”) has been in place for almost 15 years but continues to be an area that generates questions...

Fixed-term contracts offer flexibility for Irish employers, but they require careful navigation of equal treatment obligations, renewal restrictions, and dismissal risks. Understanding the Protection of Employees (Fixed-Term Work) Act 2003 is essential to avoid inadvertent legal liability and ensure compliance with successive contract limits, probation requirements, and redundancy entitlements.

Ireland's Labour Court has released its 2025 Annual Report, revealing an 11% decrease in case referrals alongside increasingly complex workplace disputes spanning employment rights appeals, industrial relations matters, and collective bargaining agreements. The report highlights significant legal developments including High Court appeals on European Works Councils and collective redundancies, while demonstrating the Court's expanding role in setting employment standards through Employment Regulation Orders