Labour Court rejects worker’s appeal over Teagasc promotion process

The Labour Court disallowed a worker’s appeal against a Rights Commissioner recommendation concerning a Teagasc post of responsibility. The worker was represented by the Services Industrial Professional Technical Union. The Court upheld the finding that the selection process was fair and rational. Its decision was signed on 24 February 2011. The worker said he had been marked incorrectly in four interview categories. The union also argued that the assessment included a presentation intended to recognise long-serving staff. Teagasc said the competition followed agreed procedures and that the worker’s marks could not be assessed without comparing them with other candidates’ results. The Court said it could not substitute its view of a candidate’s merits for that of the selection board. It found no substantial departure from the independent evaluator’s recommendations and the arrangements later agreed, and could not find the result unfair or irrational.