Ireland: Discrimination, Disability & Sexual Harassment

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.

Recent Workplace Relations Commission decisions reveal critical distinctions in how compensation caps apply under Ireland's Employment Equality Acts, particularly when employees resign before filing discrimination claims. The €13,000 statutory ceiling may not always hold, as one landmark case suggests EU law could require higher awards in certain circumstances.

No one wants to consider that an employee or a past employee might bring a claim against them in the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC).

Will the PTD obligations be implemented on time for the June 7, 2026 deadline?

This roadmap includes a checklist employers should follow in preparation for full transposition on 2 December 2026. While work has begun on national implementing legislation...

The European Union's pay transparency directive (Directive (EU) 2023/970), adopted in June 2023, is landmark legislation aimed at addressing pay discrimination and closing the gender pay gap across the European Union.

The EU Pay Transparency Directive (the "Directive") aims to enhance pay transparency for employees and candidates for employment and to improve access for redress for gender based pay-discrimination claims.

This month, the Employment (Contractual Retirement Ages) Bill 2025 was published. It proposes to impose additional requirements on employers where mandatory retirement below state pension age...