Labour Court recommends no concession of worker’s claim to Director of Service role

The Labour Court recommended that Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council not concede a worker’s claim to appointment as a Director of Service or transfer into an acting post. The recommendation was dated 9 May 2024. The worker, employed by another local authority, argued that the council should have appointed them from a Public Appointments Service panel. The Court said the panel had expired, so a permanent appointment could no longer be made. It also considered the proposed transfer and displacement of an acting post holder impractical and unreasonable. Placement on the panel did not guarantee appointment, and the council’s chief executive had made no decision to fill a permanent vacancy while it was active. The Court recommended that the parties accept that no improper operation of the appointment mechanisms had occurred.