Protections for employees facing redundancy.
There are a range of protections under employment law for employees facing redundancy. Redundancy can occur where an employee loses their job because their employer is closing their business, reducing the number of staff or restructuring their business. It occurs when a job no longer exists, an employee is let go and they are not replaced.
Under the Redundancy Payments Act 1967, an employee with more than 2 years’ service who is made redundant may be entitled to a redundancy payment.
The Protection of Employment Act 1977 places obligations on employers proposing collective redundancies, which arise when certain thresholds are met. Employers must carry out a 30-day consultation with employees’ representatives and notify the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment at least 30 days before the redundancies take effect.
These protections for employees apply generally and are not specific to any one particular reason for redundancy or for any particular sector.
If an employee believes their employment rights have been breached, they can make a complaint to the Workplace Relations Commission under the relevant legislation. In general, complaints to the WRC must be made within 6 months of the alleged breach.
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence is a transformative technology with major potential for Ireland’s economy and society. While AI will undoubtedly create new opportunities, it also carries the risk of job displacement, and it is likely that new types of roles will emerge. As a result, the development of new skills and capacities within the workforce is essential.
This is precisely why Government’s recently published National Digital and AI Strategy, Digital Ireland - Digital Ireland – Connecting our People, Securing our Future, commits to supporting workers in managing the impacts of potential job displacement by ensuring access to agile, fit-for-purpose and high-quality upskilling and reskilling opportunities.
The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science is advancing a range of initiatives. Actions include enhanced upskilling opportunities with SOLAS and Skillnet, a new online one-stop-shop AI Skilling Platform for employers and individuals, a nationwide Digital and AI skilling campaign and a Roadmap for Technology Skills of the Future. In addition, a new National Skills Observatory will be established to analyse labour market dynamics and skills needs.
It will be important to closely monitor AI developments across the labour market. My Department is actively doing this by funding and co-funding forward-looking research, including Skills for Digital Specialists 2030, a new Working in Ireland Survey led by UCD, alongside ongoing collaboration with the OECD. Finally, it is important to note that current labour-market conditions remain strong. Employment stands at 2.83 million, up 56,700 year-on-year to Q4 2025, with record participation and near-record low unemployment.
Broader issues around income supports for workers who lose their job are a matter for the Department of Social Protection.
