Labour Court declines union request to reinstate worker dismissed by Irish Sugar

The Labour Court did not uphold the Irish Transport And General Workers' Union's request to reinstate a worker dismissed by Irish Sugar Company Limited. Its recommendation, dated 15 August 1989, said the company had not acted precipitately or unreasonably. The union relied on medical reports it said supported the worker's fitness for his normal duties and noted that he had continued working after settling a compensation claim. The company cited his recurring absences and medical reports concerning his ability to perform the full range of general operative duties. The Court said his absences had recurred over several years and the medical evidence did not give a confident long-term prognosis.