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Covid 19 - Labour Court Protocols

Hearings in Lansdowne House COVID-19 Protocols

The Labour Court are holding hearings in a combination of physical Court rooms and in virtual Court rooms. Notification letters to Parties will set out whether the hearing will take place in a physical in-person hearing or a virtual court room.

The Court will provide all parties with a document setting out the Court’s Covid protocols prior to their attendance at Lansdowne House. These protocols must be strictly adhered to by all persons attending the Court’s premises.

The COVID-19 protocols can be viewed here.

Parties attending a hearing in the Court’s virtual Court room will need internet access, and one of either a smart phone, a laptop, a tablet, a desktop or any internet enabled device. Full instructions for accessing and connecting to a virtual courtroom hearing will issue to participants prior to the date of their hearing.

Should an issue be raised in relation to fair procedure during the course of a virtual courtroom hearing the Court will take whatever steps it deems necessary, including adjourning to a physical in-person hearing at a later date.

The Labour Court is a designated State Body empowered under the Civil Law and Criminal Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2020 to convene hearings in a virtual Court room.

The Court has prepared a user’s guide to virtual Labour Court Hearings and it is available here.

Attendance by Members of the Public/Media at Labour Court Hearings

Employment Rights Hearings

Members of the public, including members of the media, are permitted to attend Labour Court hearings under the various employment rights statutes. The Court publishes on its website a list of all employment rights matters to be heard the following week. Should you wish to attend a hearing in Lansdowne House, please submit a request to info@labourcourt.ie When attending a hearing, please enter through the Northumberland Road entrance and sign in at reception.

There are a number of employment rights matters being heard remotely in virtual courtrooms, which members of the public, including members of the media, may be permitted to attend and observe. Should you wish to attend a listed hearing designated as a remote hearing in a virtual courtroom, please submit a request to info@labourcourt.ie

 Industrial Relations Hearings

All Labour Court hearings convened under the Industrial Relations Acts, whether in a physical in-person courtroom or in a virtual courtroom, are private sittings.  Attendance is confined to the parties to the hearing, their representatives and other essential attendees.  Members of the public, including members of the media, are therefore not permitted to attend hearings under the Industrial Relations Acts.