Ireland: Employee Rights/ Labour Relations

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.

The Tax Appeals Commission examined whether an employee working in Ireland under an A1 certificate, who paid social security contributions in another EU jurisdiction rather than Irish PRSI, could claim tax exemption on a redundancy payment. The case centered on the interpretation of the Redundancy Payments Act 1967 requirements and whether EU Regulation 883/2004 on social security coordination could override Irish tax law provisions for statutory redundancy payments.

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.

Ireland's Cabinet has approved the General Scheme of the Pregnancy Loss Leave Bill 2026, which would establish a statutory entitlement to five days' paid leave annually for employees experiencing pregnancy loss before 23 weeks' gestation. The proposed legislation includes day-one employment rights, protection against penalisation, and provisions for employers with existing more favorable schemes. Employers should begin reviewing their current leave and bereavement policies in anticipation of potential enact

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.

Irish employers must navigate a complex landscape of mandatory workplace policies, from disciplinary procedures to whistleblowing protections. Understanding which policies are legally required, how to implement them effectively, and how to keep them current can mean the difference between compliance and costly disputes.

In this episode, Partner and head of our Employment team, Karen Killalea, and Partner and head of our Data, Commercial & Technology team, Claire Morrissey, discuss the use of AI systems in the workplace and the impact of the EU AI Act on Irish based employers as well as providing some practical tips for employers in terms of preparation for AI Act implementation.

Inquiries into matters of significant public concern have become a common feature of the Irish business, legal and political landscape in recent years.

The High Court has again acknowledged that a no-fault dismissal, meaning termination without cause, is permitted in law, provided there are no underlying reasons such as misconduct issues...