Employment
Law
Conference
2017
Sponsored by
The future of
employment law
Navigating the road ahead
Croke Park, Dublin
Thursday 11 May 2017
www.ibec.ie/EmployConf
@ibec_irl
#ibeclaw
Employment Law
Conference 2017
Why should you attend?
2017 will be a pivotal year for employment law policy in Ireland, as developments continue
apace. Several new policy initiatives, which will affect every business, have already dominated
the headlines including proposals in relation to zero hours contracts and banded hours
contracts, developments in retirement age and numerous Private Members’ Bills, all of which
present a variety of challenges for employers. We will examine these new initiatives as well as
the employment law implications of Brexit and the potential impact on Irish employment law.
The Labour Court has issued its first recommendation under the revised dispute settling
mechanism set out in the Industrial Relations (Amendment) Acts 2001- 2015 in the Freshways
case, which has given rise to a number of concerns regarding pay rates, industry comparators
and the policy direction of the Labour Court in wage setting. As a decision of the Labour Court,
under the newly revised legislation, may be given legal effect, making the outcome legally
enforceable against the employer, we will examine the potential implications for your business.
We will also look at the new regime for Registered Employment Agreements and Sectoral
Employment Orders under the revised legislation which has created a new landscape for
employers.
The EU General Data Protection Regulation, a ground breaking piece of data protection
legislation, will come into force on 25 May 2018, impacting significantly on every business as
it introduces severe financial penalties for non-compliance. Now is the time to get your house
in order and take steps to prepare, as your data protection obligations are about to get more
onerous. Faced with these changes, the Assistant Data Protection Commissioner, John
Keyes, will give delegates an insight into the practical implications of the new legislation. As
Head of Investigations, the Assistant Commissioner will also look at the top five breaches of
data protection in the workplace in recent months, which will provide an invaluable insight
for employers.
Employers are all too aware of the difficulties that can arise with workplace investigations.
We will assess recent cases and provide practical advice as to how to best ensure that your
investigations will withstand scrutiny before the Workplace Relations Commission and the
Labour Court. It is important that you protect your business interests while ensuring that you are
acting in line with HR best practice and in compliance with the law. Finally, our guest speaker
will advise on how best to manage external communications when internal employment
matters become public, whether it is a strike, dismissal, protected disclosure or an injunction
and he will provide his top tips for effective communication inside and outside the workplace.
What will you learn?
In keeping with our focus on the practical questions facing HR professionals and those who
advise them, Dr Desmond Ryan B.L. will examine the five most important employment law
cases of recent months. He will explain the implications of recent employment law decisions
and how they will affect your business.
Other matters for discussion include the top five things your company should be doing
before the end of 2017 and the topical employment relations issues of the day. To make your
voice heard in shaping the debate, sign up for this year’s employment law conference. It will
be of significant interest and relevance to employment law practitioners, employers and senior
managers alike.
The conference will be expertly moderated by Chris Donoghue
Chris Donoghue is a broadcast journalist, presenting Newstalk Drive on
Newstalk. Chris began his career in 2004 as a staff journalist and from there
went onto present Newstalk Breakfast for six years with Ivan Yates. Chris
moved from the early breakfast slot to presenting Newstalk Drivetime from
4-7pm. Chris also worked with UTV Ireland where he presented Ireland Live
for 1 year.
Conference speakers
Maeve McElwee
Maeve McElwee is Director of Employer Relations in Ibec. Maeve is the chief Ibec spokesperson on IR and HR matters
and represents employers interests to the ICTU, the media and senior public service management. Prior to joining Ibec
in 2000, she worked with the World Bank in Washington D.C.
Pauline O’Hare
Pauline O’Hare is a graduate of University College Dublin, where she obtained a Bachelor of Civil Laws degree and
a Masters in Commercial Law, before qualifying as a solicitor in February 2006. Pauline previously worked in private
practice, representing both employers and employees, before joining Ibec’s Employment Law Services Unit in February
2008 where she advises employers on both contentious and non-contentious matters.
Nichola Harkin
Nichola Harkin is a graduate of University College Dublin, where she obtained a Bachelor of Civil Laws (BCL)
(International) degree and the London School of Economics, where she obtained a Masters of Law (LLM) (Employment
Law). She qualified as a solicitor in 2013. Nichola previously worked in private practice for a number of years. She
joined Ibec’s Employment Law Services Unit in 2015.
John Keyes
Having been called to the Bar of Ireland in 2015, John Keyes took up the position of Assistant Commissioner and Head
of Investigations in the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner in August 2015. John oversees the investigations
function of the Office which involves handling all complaints received from members of the public in relation to alleged
infringements of their data protection and privacy rights, including the right of access to their own personal data.
Gillian Verrecchia
Gillian Verrecchia is a graduate of University College Dublin, where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree before
qualifying as a solicitor in 2006. Gillian worked in both private practice and Ibec, specialising in employment law
advising and representing both employers and employees. She worked in the legal unit of the Equality Authority
representing clients before the Equality Tribunal, Labour Court, High Court and Supreme Court. Gillian returned to
Ibec’s Employment Law Services Unit in 2014.
Desmond Ryan
Dr. Desmond Ryan B.L. is a practising barrister in the Law Library, Dublin, specialising exclusively in employment law
since 2006. He advises on all aspects of employment law. He is a founding member of the Irish Employment Law
Association and is a member of the Employment Bar Association, Law Library, Dublin, the Health and Safety Lawyers’
Association of Ireland and the European Employment Lawyers’ Association.
Terry MacNamara
Terry MacNamara is the Regional Director of Ibec North West. In his current role, he negotiates on behalf of member
companies at local level, and represents employers at the Workplace Relations Commission, the Labour Court and the
Employment Appeals Tribunal. He holds a BA in Natural Sciences from TCD, an MBA from University of Ulster, an MA in
Leadership & Management from NUIM and a Diploma in Employment Law.
Fiona Higgins
A graduate of University College Dublin and University College Galway, Fiona joined Ibec in 1999 as part of the
Industrial Relations Graduate Programme. In addition to working in industry, Fiona has held a number of roles in the
Employer Relations division in Ibec, advising and representing member company interests.
Barry McLoughlin
Barry joined the Communications Clinic having worked for several years as a solicitor in private practice. On a daily
basis, he delivers courses in media, crisis communications and presentation skills. Barry holds a Degree in Law and
European Studies from the University of Limerick. He served as President of the University of Limerick Students’ Union
and sat on the Governing Authority of the University, as well as the Academic Council.
Programme
8.30 am
9.00 am
Registration and coffee
Welcome address
Maeve McElwee
9.05 amEmployment law policy round up - recent and
upcoming legislation
Pauline O’Hare
• Overview of new policy initiatives likely to affect
your business
• Focus on zero hours and banded hours proposals
• Employment law implications of Brexit
9.40 am Industrial Relations (Amendment) Act 2015
Nichola Harkin
•Labour Court’s application of new IR legislation on
collective bargaining
• Where now after Freshways?
• REAs and SEOs – a new landscape for employers?
10.15 am Data protection and the workplace in 2017 – what’s
new?
John Keyes, Assistant Data Protection Commissioner
• Implications of the EU General Data Protection
Regulation for businesses
• Top 5 breaches of data protection in the workplace in
the last 12 months
10.50 am Coffee
11.15 am Assessment of workplace investigations
Gillian Verrecchia
• Importance of internal processes and fair procedures
• Emerging patterns in case law
• Implications for HR practitioners
11.50 am Panel discussion
12.10 pm Impact of recent legislation - top 5 cases of the last
12 months
Dr Desmond Ryan B.L.
• 5 most important decisions of the last 12 months
• Practical impact on your business
• Impact of workplace relations reform on cases in the
last 12 months
12.45 pm Questions and answers
1.00 pm
Lunch
2.15 pm Applying the knowledge – managing an internal
investigation
Terry MacNamara
• Practical exercise based on recent cases
• Lessons learned
• Sharing solutions
2.45 pm 5 things your company should be doing before the
end of 2017
Fiona Higgins
• Updating your policies and procedures
• Adhering to best practice
3.05 pm Protecting your company’s reputation
Barry McLoughlin
• W
hen internal employment matters become tomorrow’s
news • Managing external communications – avoiding the
pitfalls
• Making internal communications work for you
3.45 pm
Questions and answers
4.00 pm Close
Employment Law
Conference 2017
Venue
Croke Park
Jones Road
Dublin 3
Date
11 May 2017
Time
8.30 am – 4.00 pm
Member price €330 + VAT
Non member price €400 + VAT
Register online at
www.ibec.ie/EmployConf