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Ireland
Essentials of Employment Law in Ireland
Wednesday, 29 April 2026
09:15 - 13:00 ( 3 hours 45 mins )
Online
2 Half Days - 29th & 30th April
Gain a solid understanding of Ireland-specific employment law in this interactive 2 x half-day online course. Led by expert trainers, the course covers key topics like contracts, disciplinary procedures, dismissals, and grievances, with practical exercises and e-learning resources to reinforce learning.
Essentials of Employment Law
Event details
About the event?
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29th April 2 Half Days - 29th & 30th April
Online Zoom
€465.00 Early bird ends 18th March 2026 at 5:00pm. Standard rate: €515.00 Charity and Small Business rate also available
In Partnership With
Overview

Navigate Ireland's Employment Laws with Confidence  

The Essentials of Employment Law online course is specifically designed to give attendees a thorough grounding in the main components of Irish employment law.  With so many changes taking place in today’s workplaces, including blended working, an understanding of core employment laws is now more important than ever before.

This is an interactive 2 x half-day course, delivered by a team of highly experienced employment law experts.  The sessions will be supported by a comprehensive pack of notes on Irish employment law as well as a number of practical exercises throughout the sessions to help enforce learning.  The online sessions will also be complemented with access to a number of additional e-learning programmes aimed to help supplement attendees’ understanding of Employment Laws in Ireland.

What are the learning outcomes?

By the end of this course, attendees will:

  • Have a clear understanding of the key points and principles of employment law in ROI.
  • Understand the concept of natural justice in disciplinary and grievance procedures.
  • Understand the importance of following organisational policies and procedures.
  • Be able to understand and handle common workplace scenarios, having learnt through worked examples.

What will be covered?

  • Sources of employment law and the roles of the Workplace Relations Commission
  • Contracts of employment
  • Employment equality and discrimination issues
  • Fair procedures in discipline and dismissals
  • Key developments in employment law

Additional learning aids:

In addition to attending the live sessions with our experts, attendees will have exclusive access to the following e-learning programmes to complete in their own time:

  • Whistleblowing Awareness in the Workplace
  • Data Protection in the Workplace
  • Diversity & Inclusion in the Workplace

Who should attend this event?

Anyone with a need to know the main building blocks of Irish employment law including HR Managers, Supervisors, line managers, In-house Lawyers and Legal & HR Advisers. Ideal for those new to employment law or seeking a refresher course. 

This training is not suitable for those with extensive knowledge of Irish employment law.

Why should you attend this event?

The Essentials of Employment Law online course is specifically designed to give attendees a thorough grounding in the main components of Irish employment law.  An understanding of core Irish-specific employment laws is more important than ever before.

Programme

A detailed look at Essentials of Employment Law in Ireland...

Time
Session
09:15 am

Day 1

Welcome & Introduction

An introduction to the first day of the event, with Julie Holmes, Knowledge Partner, Legal Island.

Julie holmes
Julie Holmes Knowledge Partner, Legal Island
09:20 am
Irish Employment Law in Context

In this session Dr Gerry McMahon, HR consultant and former WRC adjudication officer, outlines the legal foundations of employment in Ireland, from legislation and case law to industrial relations and customary practices. This session focuses on the origins of the rules, rather than their day-to-day enforcement. This includes:

  • The Irish Constitution
  • Domestic and EU Legislation
  • Case law
  • Industrial Relations Law - collective agreements, Employment Regulation Orders and Sectoral Employment Order
  • Custom and Practice
Gerrys L I Head Shot resized
Dr. Gerry McMahon MD, Productive Personnel Ltd
09:45 am
Role of the WRC and the Irish Courts’ System for enforcement of employment rights

Where Session 1 explained the sources of law, here we explore how those sources operate in real workplaces. Dr Gerry McMahon outlines the role of the WRC in:

  • Providing information on employment rights and responsibilities
  • Conducting workplace inspections
  • Providing an Adjudication Service

We will also explore the options for those dissatisfied with a WRC decision or who wish to pursue resolution through alternative forums.

Includes Q&A

Gerrys L I Head Shot resized
Dr. Gerry McMahon MD, Productive Personnel Ltd
10:15 am
Screen Break
10:25 am
The Basics of Contracts of Employment (Part 1)

Contracts of employment put into practice the rights and obligations explored in Sessions 1 and 2.  Jennifer Bassett, Senior Associate in Matheson’s Employment, Pensions and Benefits Group will focus on how contracts are created, the different types of employment, and what employment status really means in today’s workplace.

  • Types of employment (permanent, fixed term, agency workers, full/part time)
  • Employment status (including gig economy)
  • Formation of a contract of employment – offer, acceptance, consideration, certainty, legally binding.
Jennifer Bassett
Jennifer Bassett Senior Associate, Matheson's Employment, Pensions and benefits Group
11:00 am
Refreshment Break
11:30 am
Practical Content of Contracts of Employment (Part 2)

Building on how contracts are formed, this session covers the actual content of contracts, such as written and implied terms, policies, and statutory entitlements. In this session, Rachel Kenny, senior associate in Matheson’s Employment, Pensions and Benefits team will focus on:

  • Written terms of employment and other contractual terms, e.g. probation, minimum terms, remote and hybrid working, EU requirements, employee handbooks (including essential policies/procedures); flexible working; SSP
  • Minimum employment rights in relation to pay, hours, holidays and sickness entitlement (SSP).
  • Varying contracts of employment
Rachel kenny
Rachel Kenny Senior Assiociate, Matheson's Employment, Pensions and Benefits Group
12:15 pm
Interactive Exercise – Varying a Contract of Employment and Q&A

Jennifer and Rachel will help you work through scenarios to identify how and when changes can be made to contracts in line with employment law.

Jennifer Bassett
Jennifer Bassett Senior Associate, Matheson's Employment, Pensions and benefits Group
Rachel kenny
Rachel Kenny Senior Assiociate, Matheson's Employment, Pensions and Benefits Group
12:55 pm
Close of Day 1
09:15 am

Day 2

Welcome to Day 2

With Julie Holmes, Knowledge Partner, Legal Island

Julie holmes
Julie Holmes Knowledge Partner, Legal Island
09:20 am
Discrimination and Employment Equality (Part 1)

In this session, Marian Jennings, solicitor and employment law lecturer, provides an overview of the scope of the Employment Equality Acts 1998 – 2015, helping HR professionals understand the framework for promoting fairness in the workplace and avoiding discrimination in recruitment.

Topics include:

  • Scope of the Employment Equality Acts
  • 9 Protected Grounds and latest developments
  • Definitions: direct and indirect discrimination; victimisation; harassment; vicarious liability.
  • Avoiding discrimination in access to employment.
Marian jennings
Marian Jennings Specialist in Employment & Business Law
09:50 am
Comfort Break
10:00 am
Discrimination and Equality (Part 2)

Marian will explore how the Employment Equality Acts apply across the employee lifecycle. This session covers pregnancy and maternity rights, disability discrimination and the duty to make reasonable accommodations, harassment and sexual harassment guidelines, equal pay and gender pay gap reporting, and considerations around retirement and dismissal. 

Marian jennings
Marian Jennings Specialist in Employment & Business Law
10:35 am
Discrimination Scenarios and Q&A Session 
Marian jennings
Marian Jennings Specialist in Employment & Business Law
11:00 am
Refreshment Break
23:30 pm
Discipline and Dismissal

Employing fair procedures when managing disciplinary matters or dismissal is essential for demonstrating fairness and legal compliance. In this session, Colum Holland, senior associate in Matheson’s Employment, Pensions and Benefits Group will outline what constitutes fair procedures and explores the right to claim unfair dismissal.

Key topics include:

  • Employer obligations and employee rights under the Unfair Dismissals Acts 1997–2015
  • Essential elements of fair procedures
  • Considerations around wrongful dismissal including injunctions.

Includes Q&A with Colum.

Colum holland
Colum Holland Senior Associate, Matheson's Employment, Pensions and Benefits Group
12:30 pm
Key Developments in Employment Law in the Next 12 Months

In this final session, Colum will highlight recent employment law developments and anticipated changes* over the next year, including:

  • Right to request remote and flexible working
  • Retirement ages / requests to work beyond mandatory retirement age
  • Gender Pay Gap reporting / Pay Transparency
  • Collective bargaining / EWCs

Attendees will leave with insights to guide HR strategy and compliance planning.

NOTE: This session will consist of what our speaker considers to be the most important developments in employment law and may differ from the above topics.

Colum holland
Colum Holland Senior Associate, Matheson's Employment, Pensions and Benefits Group
12:55 pm
Final Q&A and Close of Event
Testimonials

Feedback that speaks volumes...

Here's what our previous attendees had to say.

"It was really simple to understand and to follow. Loads of information provided and notes were provided to understand what was discussed"
Caz Morgan HR Coordinator, Stantec
"Good knowledgeable speakers, a range of great topics."
Michaela Willis HR Manager, Sherwin Williams
Presenters
Explore the presenters on the day
Jennifer Bassett Senior Associate, Matheson's Employment, Pensions and benefits Group
Jennifer Bassett Senior Associate, Matheson's Employment, Pensions and benefits Group
Jennifer Bassett

Jennifer is a senior associate in Matheson’s Employment, Pensions and Benefits Group.


Jennifer advises national and multi-national clients on the entire life cycle of employment law issues. Jennifer has extensive experience in providing discrete and commercially-focused advice and support, including in relation to ad hoc day-to-day supports, managing internal procedures as well as managing contentious employment disputes and larger workforce restructuring projects.


Jennifer previously worked in a large international law firm and regularly provides employment law training to clients’ in-house counsel and HR departments.

Colum Holland Senior Associate, Matheson's Employment, Pensions and Benefits Group
Colum Holland Senior Associate, Matheson's Employment, Pensions and Benefits Group
Colum holland

Colum is a senior associate in Matheson’s Employment, Pensions and Benefits Group.
Colum advises on all aspects of employment law, both contentious and non-contentious. This work includes advising on all matters arising out of conclusion of the employer-employee relationship, including dismissals, redundancies, complex workplace investigations, including in respect of bullying, harassment and whistleblowing complaints, disciplinary / grievance procedures, and performance management processes. 
Colum works with a variety of large national and multinational clients in many different sectors (including technology, pharmaceuticals, financial services, retail and manufacturing). Colum regularly contributes to thought leadership publications on key employment law developments, leading employment case law and workplace trends from an employment law perspective. 

Marian Jennings Specialist in Employment & Business Law
Marian Jennings Specialist in Employment & Business Law
Marian jennings

Marian is an experienced Law Lecturer, with a specialist offering developed over 20 years, in Employment and Business Law. She offers the combined value of a proven track record in academia together with professional private practice/in-house legal roles and significant board, governance and organisational management experience in the community and voluntary sector.

Rachel Kenny Senior Assiociate, Matheson's Employment, Pensions and Benefits Group
Rachel Kenny Senior Assiociate, Matheson's Employment, Pensions and Benefits Group
Rachel kenny

Rachel is a Senior Associate in Matheson’s Employment, Pensions and Benefits team. 
Rachel has worked with large national and multinational companies in many different sectors and advises on all aspects of employment and equality law, both in contentious and non-contentious matters, from pre-employment matters to the termination of employment.


Rachel’s work includes advising on all matters arising out of the employer-employee relationship, including termination and redundancy processes, internal investigations, grievances and disciplinary procedures and also the preparation and review of employment contracts, varying terms and conditions, company handbooks, and human resource policies to ensure compliance with Irish employment legislation and best practice.
Rachel regularly contributes to articles which have been profiled on leading legal publications and delivers presentations, seminars and training to clients on all aspects of employment law.

Dr. Gerry McMahon MD, Productive Personnel Ltd
Dr. Gerry McMahon MD, Productive Personnel Ltd
Gerrys L I Head Shot resized

Gerry McMahon is an acknowledged national expert in People Management.  He has over 35 years’ experience - as a workplace investigator (on bullying/harassment/ disciplinary/dismissal/grievance issues), trainer, negotiator, facilitator, mediator, arbitrator and team builder - across a wide range of employment sectors. He is the M.D. of the H.R. training and advisory company Productive Personnel Ltd. 

Gerry has also had an extensive range of books and articles published and been a columnist with the Industrial Relations News, Irish Times, Sunday Business Post, and Irish Independent and expert commentator on H.R./Employee Relations for R.T.E. and TV3/Virgin. He has also served on numerous Legal Island and C.I.P.D. judging panels and is a Council member of the Irish Association for Industrial Relations.

Contact: Tel. 087-2471415; E-Mail: ppl1gerry@gmail.com

Pricing

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Early bird offer
€465.00 Standard Rate: €515.00 Early bird ends 18th March 2026 at 5:00pm
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Online Standard Rate: €465.00 Early Bird: €405.00 (Ends 18th March 2026 at 5:00pm)

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