Derived from the renowned multi-volume International Encyclopaedia of Laws, this monograph on labour law in Ireland not only describes and analyses the legal aspects of labour relations, but also examines labour relations practices and developing trends. It provides a survey of the subject that is both usefully brief and sufficiently detailed to answer most questions likely to arise in any pertinent legal setting. Both individual and collective labour relations are covered in ample detail, with attention to such underlying and pervasive factors employment contracts, suspension of the contracts, dismissal laws and covenant of non-competition, as well as international private law. The authors describe all important details of the law governing hours and wages, benefits, intellectual property implications, trade union activity, employers’ associations, workers’ participation, collective bargaining, industrial disputes, and much more.

Building on a clear overview of labour law and labour relations, the book offers practical guidance on which sound preliminary decisions may be based. It will find a ready readership among lawyers representing parties with interests in Ireland, and academics and researchers will appreciate its value in the study of comparative trends in laws affecting labour and labour relations.

The Author

General Introduction

Chapter 1. Employment Law in Ireland in Context

Chapter 2. The Irish Judicature and Employment-connected Litigation

Chapter 3. Sources of Employment Law

Part I. The Individual Employment Relationship

Chapter 1. Identification of a Contract of Employment

Chapter 2. Fixed-term Workers, Part-time Workers, Agency Workers, Zero-hours Workers and non-EEA Workers

Chapter 3. The Form and Content of the Contract of Employment

Chapter 4. The Common Law and Constitutional Rights and Duties of the Parties During the Employment Relationship

Chapter 5. Working Time and Holidays

Chapter 6. Parental Leave, Maternity Leave, Force Majeure Leave, and Carer’s Leave

Chapter 7. The Law Relating to Wages

Chapter 8. Incapacity to Work

Chapter 9. Legal Regulation of Dismissal at Common Law

Chapter 10. The Unfair Dismissals Acts 1977–2007

Chapter 11. The Redundancy Payments Acts 1967–2007 and the Protection of Employment Act 1977

Chapter 12. Protection Derived from the Transfer of Undertakings Directive 2003

Chapter 13. Protection against Discrimination on Grounds of Sex in Employment

Chapter 14. The Law on Discrimination on Grounds of Age, Disability and Race

Chapter 15. Non-competition Covenants

Part II. Collective Labour Relations

Chapter 1. The Historical Development of Trade Union Legitimacy: Trade Unions and the Constitution

Chapter 2. The Law Regulating Trade Unions

Chapter 3. Worker Participation in Ireland

Chapter 4. The Law Governing Strikes and Industrial Action

Chapter 5. Settlement of Industrial Disputes

Selected Bibliography

Index