Labour Court recommends permanent posts for two North Western Health Board psychologists

The Labour Court recommended that the North Western Health Board confirm two temporary Principal Clinical Psychologists in their current posts as permanent Principal Psychologists. The recommendation was dated 20 January 2005. The workers, represented by the Irish Municipal, Public and Civil Trade Union, had held what were effectively the posts for 15 years and nine years. The union sought confirmation without an open competition; the Board said permanent posts had to go through open recruitment by the Local Appointments Commission. The Court said it would be unreasonable to expect the workers to compete after holding the posts for so long. It recommended confirmation by designation and said the employer should seek a derogation. The recommendation was limited to the special facts of the case and would have no precedent value.