The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) declined jurisdiction over Roisin Riordan’s complaint that the Health Executive Service discriminated against her because she was on maternity leave. In a decision dated 12 March 2025, the WRC found she was not an employee because she did not start the course on the contracted date. It made no finding on whether discrimination occurred.
Riordan said she signed a contract for a postgraduate mental health nursing course run with UCD, then sought to defer her place while on maternity leave. She said the offer was withdrawn after she was told deferral was unavailable. The respondent said its recruitment terms did not allow deferral and that it withdrew the offer because she could not start on the agreed date.