Matheson Employment Law Podcast Series

Episode 66: Mandatory Retirement Clauses – the Employment and Pensions Law Issues for Employers

In the latest episode of the Matheson Employment Law Podcast Series, Bryan Dunne, Head of Employment, is joined by fellow partner and Head of Pensions, Lorcan Keenan and employment partner Ailbhe Dennehy to delve into the topic of mandatory retirement in the workplace.  The podcast looks at this issue from both an employment law and pensions law perspective.
 
This discussion addresses the 2024 Supreme Court decision in Mallon v The Minister for Justice, which appears to make implementing a mandatory retirement age more straightforward for employers. It also consider the pending legislation intended to regulate the use of mandatory retirement clauses and whether there is any major change for employers in this.

Episode 65: Pensions Auto-Enrolment

In this latest episode of the Matheson Employment Law Podcast Series, Bryan Dunne, Head of Employment, is joined by fellow partner and Head of Pensions, Lorcan Keenan, senior associate, Conor Woods and associate, Trina Dzidonu on a special episode looking at the new Irish pensions auto-enrolment system, My Future Fund, due to launch in September 2025.
The discussion explores all aspects of auto-enrolment, including the eligibility and the enrolment process, the key differences between the auto-enrolment system and traditional pension arrangements, and key considerations and decision points for employers ahead of the new system going live.

Episode 64: Key Employment Law Themes for 2025

In this latest episode of the Matheson Employment Law Podcast Series, Bryan Dunne, Head of Employment, is joined by senior associates Ellen Nolan, Shane Gallen, Rachel Barry and Jill Barrett to discuss what we see as the key employment law and HR themes for 2025. The themes discussed include: the Pay Transparency Directive and how to prepare for these changes, the HR aspects of CSRD, new rules on the use of non-disclosure agreements, the changes at US parent level on D&I programmes, trends in remote working and finally anticipated new legislation in relation to mandatory retirement.

Episode 63: Executive Derailment

In the first of our Matheson Employment Law podcasts of 2025, Bryan Dunne, Head of Employment, is joined by two financial services industry specialists, Enda Allen and Una Hassett, on a special episode looking at recent research on the area of executive derailment in the workplace. The discussion explored what executive derailment is, why it happens, and preventative measures to help reduce it occurring, with a particular focus on how employers can significantly benefit from a greater awareness of how executive derailment can arise and how to address it early on.

Episode 62: AI In The Workplace: What Employers Need To Know

In this latest episode of the Matheson Employment Law Podcast Series, Bryan Dunne, Head of Employment, is joined by fellow employment partner, Alice Duffy, on a special episode looking at AI in the workplace. In particular, Bryan and Alice discuss how AI uses may pose a risk for employers. Also discussed is the new AI Act and resources available to help employers plan for its implementation.

Episode 61: Nolan v Science Foundation Ireland.

In this episode of the Matheson Employment Law Podcast Series, Bryan Dunne, Head of Employment, reviews the Irish High Court decision of Philip Nolan and Science Foundation Ireland from last June.
This was an application for an injunction to restrain a dismissal, following an investigation into certain allegations against the plaintiff. The case, however, addressed the question of whether an employer can dismiss an employee arising out of an investigation without applying fair procedures, so long as it can show the basis for the dismissal was not misconduct. Bryan takes a look at the various employment law issues arising out of this case, including further clarification on when an employer must apply fair procedures, and whether there are circumstances where an employer is better off strategically to call out performance or other workplace issues relating to the employee, rather than take a pure no fault termination approach.

Episode 60: Remote Working Code of Practice and a Record WRC Award.

In this episode of the Matheson Employment Law Podcast Series, Bryan Dunne, Head of Employment, takes a detailed look at the recently published Workplace Relations Commission Code of Practice on the Right to Request Remote and Flexible Working, what exactly it provides for and what this means for employers. Bryan also reviews a recent decision from the WRC which now sets the record for the highest unfair dismissal award granted by the WRC since it was first established in 2015 at €440,000.

Episode 59: Employment Law Outlook and Trends for 2024.

In this episode of the Matheson Employment Law Podcast Series Bryan Dunne, Head of Employment, looks at key changes set to take place in 2024. Discussed in the episode are recent developments in regard to several key areas of employment law, specifically changes in the Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Act, the EU Directive on Adequate Minimum Wage (due to be in legislation November 2024), Statutory Sick Pay, Gender Pay Gap Reporting, national pension age and auto-enrolment, Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Act and anticipated regulation of using AI in the workplace.

Episode 58: Latest Employment Law Developments and Buttimer v Oak Fuels Supermarkets Limited Case.

In this latest episode Bryan Dunne, Head of Employment, takes you through some of the latest employment law developments. He also explores the recent Irish High Court decision of Buttimer and Oak Fuels Supermarkets Limited where the High Court reconfirmed the position that an employee's right to fair procedures are not triggered where they are being terminated within their probationary period for performance related reasons or for no reason, in accordance with their employment contract (i.e. a no fault termination). Bryan also considers how an injunction works in practice and considers the implications for both employees and employers of seeking such relief.

Episode 57: Blowing the whistle! Taking a Closer Look at a Protected Disclosures Penalisation Claim.

In this episode of the Matheson Employment Law Podcast Series, Bryan Dunne, Head of Employment, takes you through a recent whistleblowing penalisation claim. The existing protected disclosures framework was significantly enhanced by the recent enactment of the Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Act 2022 which came into effect on 1 January this year. This case, although heard under the previous legislation, illustrates how extensive the protection is for whistleblowers against acts constituting penalisation. Given the broader definition of penalisation under the 2022 Act, employers should take particular note of this case!