The Workplace Relations Commission found Sinead Cotter’s claim that Irving Oil Whitegate Refinery Limited discriminated against her by paying her less than male colleague Brendan Collins was not well founded. In its decision dated 20 February 2026, the WRC said Cotter had not established that she performed like work or work of equal value.
Cotter alleged that the pay difference was based on gender and family status. The refinery denied discrimination, arguing the roles differed in work, skill and commercial risk. The adjudicator accepted Collins as a comparator on gender grounds, but found he undertook larger construction projects and more strategic work, and that Cotter had not shown she performed work aligned with his construction role or its quantity-surveying requirements.
The WRC rejected the refinery’s argument that Cotter was barred from pursuing the claim after accepting a 10% pay increase, but dismissed the discrimination complaint. No compensation was awarded.