Labour Court rejects AA Euro Recruitment's appeal over Padraig Cotter's employment status

The Labour Court dismissed Aa Euro Recruitment Ireland Limited's jurisdictional appeal, allowing Padraig Cotter to pursue his unfair dismissal claim against the company. The Court dated its determination 9 February 2021; it did not decide whether the dismissal was unfair, so the merits were not decided. The company argued Cotter was an agency worker and that Careys Building and Civil Engineering, the hirer, was responsible for any unfair dismissal claim. Cotter said he was directly employed as a security officer. The Court found his contract did not describe him as an agency worker and concluded he was directly employed by the company, giving him standing to maintain the claim. The Court said it would proceed to hear the substantive case. An Adjudication Officer had previously found Cotter's complaint well founded and awarded €12,000 in compensation. This determination did not decide whether that award would stand.