Professor Michael Doherty

Head of Maynooth University School of Law and Criminology from 2013 until 2022, he previously chaired the LEEF High-Level Working Group on Collective Bargaining.

Dr Desmond Ryan, Cathy Smith, Kevin Duffy, Anne Lynn, Claire Bruton and Deirdre Malone have also been appointed as ordinary members of the ELRG.

In addition to the government appointments, members nominated by a range of other stakeholders have also been formally appointed.

The new group includes nominees from IBEC, ISME, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU), the Law Society of Ireland, the Employment Bar Association, Restructuring and Insolvency Ireland, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, the Department of Social Protection, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, the Workplace Relations Commission, the Courts Service, the Office of the Attorney General and the Chief State Solicitor’s Office.

All members have been appointed for a four-year term and can be re-appointed for up to two terms. The chairperson can serve up to 10 years in total.

Modelled on the existing Company Law Review Group (CLRG), the ELRG will monitor, review and advise on all aspects of employment and redundancy law.

It will have a specific focus on promoting good workplace relations in the State, simplifying the operation of employment and redundancy law in the State, and ensuring that the State’s suite of employment rights and redundancy legislation remains relevant and fit for purpose and is updated to reflect international developments.

Enterprise, trade and employment minister Peter Burke said: “I am pleased to appoint the members and chair of the Employment Law Review Group.

“The ELRG will provide a valuable resource in conducting ongoing assessments of employment law to ensure our legal framework is fit for purpose and adapts to changes in the evolving contemporary workplace.”

Emer Higgins, minister of state for business, employment and retail, added: “The ELRG is comprised of members with an interest and expertise in the development of employment and redundancy law.

“This includes members from the legal professions; representatives from business, unions and regulators; as well as ministerial nominees.”

The government says the ELRG’s focus will be “more expert, technical, and legal rather than representative of stakeholders’ interests”.

Members will engage with the work programme of the ELRG and contribute to ELRG reports.

The ELRG has been designed to include members who have expertise and an interest in the development of employment and redundancy law, including practitioners (the legal profession and accountants/liquidators), users (business and unions), regulators (implementation and enforcement bodies) and representatives from government departments.