Labour Court 80th Anniversary Conference

Louise O’Donnell, Chairman of the Labour Court, cordially invites you celebrate the 80^th Anniversary of the Labour Court.

Thursday 15^th October 2026, with registration and lunch commencing at 12:30pm.

William Norton Conference Centre, 575-577 North Circular Road, Dublin 1, D01 TR53

With the enactment of the Industrial Relations Act, 1946, the Labour Court was established to provide fair and impartial adjudication in trade disputes. To celebrate 80 years of promoting good industrial relations, and later Employment Law practice, this conference will bring together some of Ireland’s most prominent industrial relations and employment law practitioners.

A variety of themes will be explored, including the evolution of the Labour Court and its role in the contemporary Irish workplace, the voluntarist approach to industrial relations in an increasingly legalistic ecosystem and a consideration of Irish Employment Law in the wider European context. The agenda for the day can be found below.

The conference will conclude at 5:00pm and will be followed by refreshments and networking.

Registration closes at 12:00pm on June 12^th 2026. Early registration is advised as places are limited.

AGENDA

12:30: Registration and Lunch

13:30: Conference opens

13:50: Welcome Remarks, Louise O’Donnell, Chairman of the Labour Court

14:10: Panel 1 - The Labour Court; Historically an important institute in the State armoury in respect of good industrial relations in the workplace. Does it hold the same position in today’s world of work?

14:35: Keynote Speaker: Alan Dillon T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment

14:45: Panel 2 - In an everchanging world of work, is the voluntarist system on which the Labour Court was founded now being replaced by a more legalistic system of collective bargaining and work councils or is there room for both?

15:15 Keynote Speaker: Valerie Von Goethem – The Irish Labour Court and the ILO

15:20 Refreshment Break

15:45 Keynote Speaker: Peter Burke T.D, Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment

16:00 Panel 3 - Employment rights in Ireland from an Irish and European perspective

16:50 Closing Remarks: Declan Hughes, Secretary General, Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment

17:00 Reception and networking