The Workplace Relations Commission found it had no jurisdiction to consider former Defence Forces officer Yvonne Nolan’s complaints against Micheál Martin Minister For Defence. The decision, dated 12 May 2025, did not determine whether the alleged victimisation or penalisation occurred.
Nolan alleged she was victimised and penalised for challenging problems in the Defence Forces, citing the refusal of a retirement presentation, delays in recovering her service medals and the rejection of an attempt to rejoin. The respondent rejected her substantive claims and argued the WRC lacked jurisdiction.
The adjudicator found Nolan had not first referred her equality claim through the required Defence Forces procedure. The protected-disclosure complaint also fell outside the WRC provision because, as a former member, she was a worker but not an employee for the relevant section of the Act. The decision noted that an independent review had identified wider internal problems in the Defence Forces, while not addressing Nolan’s specific allegations. No award was recorded.