Background

This case relates to an appeal of a Right Commissioner’s decision under the Protection of Employees (Fixed Term Work) Act, 2003 wherein the Rights Commissioner refused to grant a contract of indefinite duration (CID) sought by Dr Wood.

Dr Wood commenced employment with National University of Ireland Maynooth (NUI Maynooth) in September 2006. She was engaged on seven written contracts of employment for each academic year thereafter until Dr Wood was made redundant following the completion of her seventh contract on 31st May 2013. For completeness, there was no written contract provided to Dr Wood for the academic year September 2008 to August 2009.

Dr Wood claimed that she was entitled to a CID “by operation of law”