WRC rules ESB Networks travel overtime complaint out of time

The Workplace Relations Commission ruled that Peter Lavelle’s Payment of Wages Act complaint against Electricity Supply Board t/a ESB Networks DAC was out of time and that it had no jurisdiction to hear it. The decision was dated 6 July 2026. Lavelle argued that ending payments for travel-related overtime caused an estimated loss of about €42,000. ESB Networks said the payments had no contractual or collective-agreement basis and arose from an incorrect local practice. The adjudication officer found the alleged contravention was the decision to end the payments in November 2023; ongoing losses and internal grievance processes did not extend the statutory time limit.