WRC dismisses dozens of claims against DSP secretary-general

The Workplace Relations Commission dismissed dozens of claims brought by Professor (Dr) Joseph Chikelue Obi against John McKeon, Secretary-General of the DSP, in a decision dated 13 February 2023. Obi said he was self-employed and that his claims arose from his application for the Pandemic Unemployment Payment scheme, which was processed by the Department of Social Protection. McKeon disputed the claims, saying Obi had never been his employee. The adjudication officer found there was no employment relationship and dismissed the claims as misconceived and incorrectly based in law. The claims spanned employment, equality, pensions, redundancy and other legislation.