lrc_1990_act_19

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INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACT 1990 REVISED Updated to 22 January 2026 (LRC Revised) Open official source

Number 19 of 1990

INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACT 1990

REVISED

Updated to 22 January 2026

Changes to legislation

as of 10 July 2026, there are changes to this Act which have not been implemented by the Revised Acts editorial team, see highlighted entries

here

. Note that some amendments may not be in force until commenced by a commencement order or other provision.

This Revised Act is an administrative consolidation of the

Credit Review Act 2026

(1/2026), enacted 3 February 2026, and all statutory

instruments up to and including

Industrial Relations Act 1990 (Code of Practice on Access to Part-Time Working) (Declaration)

Order 2026

(S.I. No. 16 of 2026), made 22 January 2026, were considered in the preparation of

this Revised Act.

All Acts up to and including the

Credit Review Act 2026

(1/2026), enacted 3 February 2026, and all statutory instruments up

to and including the

Industrial Relations Act 1990 (Code of Practice on Access to Part-Time Working) (Declaration)

Order 2026

(S.I. No. 16 of 2026), made 22 January 2026, were considered in the preparation of

this Revised

Act.

Disclaimer: While every care has

been taken in the preparation of this Revised Act, the Law Reform Commission can assume

no responsibility for and give no guarantees, undertakings or warranties concerning

the

accuracy, completeness or up to date nature of the information provided and does not

accept any liability whatsoever arising from any errors or omissions. Please notify

any

errors, omissions and comments by email to

revisedacts@lawreform.ie.

Number

1990

INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACT 1990

REVISED

Updated to 22 January 2026

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

PART I

Preliminary

Section

Short title.

Collective citations and construction.

Interpretation.

Increase of fines.

Summary proceedings for an offence.

Expenses.

Repeals.

PART II

Trade Union Law

Trade Disputes

Definitions for

Part II

Application of provisions of

Part II

10.

Acts in contemplation or furtherance of trade dispute.

11.

Peaceful picketing.

12.

Removal of liability for certain acts.

13.

Restriction of actions of tort against trade unions.

14.

Secret ballots.

15.

Power to alter rules of trade unions.

16.

Enforcement of rule for secret ballot.

17.

Actions contrary to outcome of secret ballot.

18.

Non-application of

sections 14

to employers’ unions.

19.

Restriction of right to injunction.

Amendment of Trade Union Acts, 1941, 1971 and 1975

20.

Change of deposit consequent on change in number of members.

21.

Amendment of

section 2

Trade Union Act, 1971

22.

Amalgamations and transfers.

PART III

Industrial Relations Generally

23.

“Worker”.

The Labour Court and the Labour Relations Commission

24.

Establishment of the Commission.

25.

Functions of the Commission.

26.

Investigation of dispute by Court.

26A.

Time limit in relation to trade dispute where retired worker is party to dispute.

27.

Procedure of the Commission.

28.

The chief executive.

29.

Superannuation and gratuities for and in respect of the chief executive of the Commission.

30.

Grants to the Commission and power to borrow.

31.

Accounts and audits.

32.

Staff of the Commission.

33.

Industrial relations officers and advisory service.

34.

Rights commissioners.

35.

The Rights Commissioner Service.

36.

Objections and appeals.

37.

Equality officers.

38.

Reference of dispute by Minister.

39.

Review of joint labour committees.

40.

Superannuation and gratuities for and in respect of chairman, deputy chairmen and

ordinary members of the Court.

41.

Divisions of Court.

Codes of Practice

42.

Codes of practice.

43.

Functions of Labour Court relating to codes of practice.

Joint Labour Committees

44.

Constitution and proceedings of joint labour committees.

45.

Making of establishment orders.

46.

Exclusion from scope of joint labour committee.

47.

Report for assistance of joint labour committee.

48.

Proposals for employment regulation order.

49.

Enforcement of employment regulation order by inspector by civil proceedings.

50.

Amendment of

section 52

(2) (

) of

Industrial Relations Act, 1946

Registered Employment Agreements

51.

Records.

52.

Powers of inspection for enforcement of registered employment agreement.

53.

Proof of registered employment agreement and related matters.

54.

Enforcement of registered employment agreement by inspector by civil proceedings.

55.

Amendment of

section 12

(2) (

) of

Industrial Relations Act, 1969

Failure to Attend Sitting of Court

56.

Evidence of failure to attend sitting of Court.

FIRST SCHEDULE

Increase of Fines

SECOND SCHEDULE

Repeals

THIRD SCHEDULE

Deposits

FOURTH SCHEDULE

Labour Relations Commission

FIFTH SCHEDULE

Constitution and Proceedings of Joint Labour Committees

SIXTH SCHEDULE

Enactments to which

sections 23(1A)

and

23(1B)

shall not apply to members of the Garda Síochána

Acts Referred to

Anti-Discrimination (Pay) Act, 1974

1974, No. 15

Civil Service Commissioners Act, 1956

1956; No. 45

Civil Service Regulation Act, 1956

1956, No. 46

Conspiracy, and Protection of Property Act, 1875

1875, c. 86

Employment Equality Act, 1977

1977, No. 16

Industrial Relations Act, 1946

1946, No. 26

Industrial Relations Act, 1969

1969, No. 14

Industrial Relations Act, 1976

1976, No. 15

Interpretation Act, 1937

1937, No. 38

Maternity Protection of Employees Act, 1981

1981, No. 2

Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act, 1851

1851, c. 93

Trade Disputes Act, 1906

1906, c. 47

Trade Disputes (Amendment) Act, 1982

1982, No. 15

Trade Union Act, 1871

1871, c. 31

Trade Union Act, 1941

1941, No. 22

Trade Union Act, 1971

1971, No. 33

Trade Union Act, 1975

1975, No. 4

Unfair Dismissals Act, 1977

1977, No. 10

Number

1990

INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACT 1990

REVISED

Updated to 22 January 2026

AN ACT TO MAKE FURTHER AND BETTER PROVISION FOR PROMOTING HARMONIOUS RELATIONS BETWEEN

WORKERS AND EMPLOYERS, AND TO AMEND THE LAW RELATING TO TRADE UNIONS AND FOR THESE

AND OTHER PURPOSES TO AMEND THE INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACTS, 1946 TO 1976, AND THE TRADE

UNION ACTS, 1871 TO 1982. [18

th July

, 1990]

BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS

Annotations

Modifications (not altering text)

Application of collectively cited

Industrial Relations Acts

restricted (31.05.2001) by

Industrial Relations (Amendment) Act 2001

(11/2001), s. 2(1), S.I. No. 232 of 2001, as amended (6.04.2004) by

Industrial Relations (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2004

(4/2004), s. 2, S.I. No. 138 of 2004.

Investigation of dispute by

Court.

—(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Industrial Relations Acts, 1946 to 1990,

at the request of a trade union or excepted body, the Court may investigate a trade

dispute where the Court is satisfied that—

[

(

) it is not the practice of the employer to engage in collective bargaining negotiations

in respect of the grade, group or category of workers who are party to the trade dispute

and the internal dispute resolution procedures (if any) normally used by the parties

concerned have failed to resolve the dispute,

(

) either—

(i) the employer has failed to observe—

(I) a provision of the Code of Practice on Voluntary Dispute Resolution under section

42 of the Industrial Relations Act 1990 specifying the period of time for the doing

of any thing (or such a provision of any code of practice amending or replacing that

code), or

(II) any agreement by the parties extending that period of time,

(ii) the dispute having been referred to the Commission for resolution in accordance

with the provisions of such code, no further efforts on the part of the Commission

will, in the opinion of the Commission, advance the resolution of the dispute and

the Court has received a report from the Commission to that effect,

]

(

) the trade union or the excepted body or the employees, as the case may be, have

not acted in a manner which, in the opinion of the Court, has frustrated the employer

in observing a provision of such code of practice, and

(

) the trade union or the excepted body or the employees, as the case may be, have

not had recourse to industrial action after the dispute in question was referred to

the Commission in accordance with the provisions of such code of practice.

...

Application of collectively cited

Industrial Relations Acts

potentially restricted (1.04.2000) by

National Minimum Wage Act 2000

(5/2000), s. 42, S.I. No. 96 of 2000.

Act not to derogate from certain provisions of or under Industrial Relations Acts,

1946 to 1990.

42.

— The provisions of this Act are in addition to and not in derogation of the Industrial

Relations Acts, 1946 to 1990, or—

(

) Employment Regulation Orders, and the enforcement of such Orders, made under those

Acts, or

(

) Registered Employment Agreements, and the enforcement of such Agreements, on the

except that where a minimum hourly rate of pay in accordance with this Act is a greater

amount than the minimum rate of pay prescribed under an Employment Regulation Order

or such a Registered Employment Agreement, the employee’s entitlement to pay in accordance with this Act shall prevail.

Functions transferred and terms “Department of Labour” and “Minister for Labour” construed (20.01.1993) by

Labour (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 1993

(S.I. No. 18 of 1993), arts. 3, 4, and sch. pt. 1, subject to transitional provisions

in arts. 5-9. Note that the name of the Minister for and Department of Industry and

Commerce was changed

• to the Minister for and Department of Enterprise and Employment (20.01.1993) by

Industry and Commerce (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order

1993

(S.I. No. 19 of 1993);

• to the Minister for and Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (12.07.1997)

Enterprise and Employment (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister)

Order 1997

(S.I. No. 307 of 1997);

• to the Minster for and Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation (2.05.2010)

Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister)

Order 2010

(S.I. No. 185 of 2010); and

• to the Minister for and Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (2.06.2011)

Enterprise, Trade and Innovation (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister)

Order 2011

(S.I. No. 245 of 2011).

...

3. (1) The administration and business in connection with the exercise, performance

or execution of any functions transferred by Article 4 of this Order are hereby transferred

to the Department of Industry and Commerce.

(2) References to the Department of Labour contained in any Act or instrument made

thereunder and relating to any administration and business transferred by paragraph

(1) of this Article shall, on and after the commencement of this Order, be construed

as references to the Department of Industry and Commerce.

4. (1) There are hereby transferred to the Minister for Industry and Commerce the

functions vested in the Minister for Labour by or under:—

(a) any Act mentioned in the Schedule to this Order, and

...

(2) References to the Minister for Labour contained in any Act or instrument thereunder

and relating to any functions transferred by this Article shall, on and after the

commencement of this Order, be construed as references to the Minister for Industry

and Commerce.

...

Schedule

Part I

Acts functions under which are transferred from the Minister for Labour to the Minister

for Industry and Commerce.

...

Industrial Relations Acts, 1946 to 1990.

...

Application of collectively cited

Industrial Relations Acts 1946 to 1990

restricted (9.05.1977) by

Unfair Dismissals Act 1977

(10/1977), s. 8(10), S.I. No. 138 of 1977, as substituted (1.10.1993) by

Unfair Dismissals (Amendment) Act 1993

(22/1993), s. 7(d), commenced as per s. 17(4).

Determination of claims for unfair dismissal.

8.—

...

[

(10) (a) A dispute in relation to a dismissal as respects which a recommendation has

been made by a rights commissioner under this Act or a hearing by the Tribunal under

this Act has commenced shall not be referred, under the Industrial Relations Acts,

1946 to 1990, to a rights commissioner or the Labour Court.

(b) Where, in relation to a dismissal, a recommendation has been made by a rights

commissioner, or a hearing by the Labour Court under the said Acts has commenced,

the employee concerned shall not be entitled to redress under this Act in respect

of the dismissal.

]

...

Editorial Notes

Code of practice adopted (29.04.2008) by

Industrial Relations Act 1990 (Code of Practice on Information and Consultation) (Declaration)

Order 2008

(S.I. No. 132 of 2008), art. 2 and sch.

Code of practice adopted (18.05.2007) by

Industrial Relations Act 1990 (Code of Practice for Protecting Persons Employed in

Other Peoples Homes) (Declaration) Order 2007

(S.I. No. 239 of 2007), art. 2 and sch.

Code of practice adopted (12.01.2006) by

Industrial Relations Act 1990 (Code of Practice on Access to Part-Time Working) (Declaration)

Order 2006

(S.I. No. 8 of 2006), art. 2 and sch.

Code of practice adopted (6.04.2004) by

Industrial Relations Act 1990 (Code of Practice on Victimisation) (Declaration) Order

2004

(S.I. No. 139 of 2004), art. 2 and sch.

Code of practice adopted (13.01.2004) by

Industrial Relations Act 1990 (Enhanced Code of Practice on Voluntary Dispute Resolution)

(Declaration) Order 2004

(S.I. No. 76 of 2004), art. 2 and sch.

Code of practice adopted (25.01.2002) by

Industrial Relations Act 1990 (Code of Practice Detailing Procedures For Addressing

Bullying in The Workplace) (Declaration) Order 2002

(S.I. No. 17 of 2002), art. 2 and sch.

Code of practice adopted (26.05.2000) by

Industrial Relations Act, 1990 (Code of Practice on Grievance and Disciplinary Procedures)

(Declaration) Order 2000

(S.I. No. 146 of 2000), art. 2 and sch.

Code of practice adopted (26.05.2000) by

Industrial Relations Act, 1990 (Code of Practice on Voluntary Dispute Resolution)

(Declaration) Order 2000

(S.I. No. 145 of 2000), art. 2 and sch.

Code of practice adopted (6.05.1996) by

Industrial Relations Act, 1990, Code of Practice on Disciplinary Procedures (Declaration)

Order 1996

(S.I. No. 117 of 1996), art. 2 and sch.

E10

Code of practice adopted (25.06.1993) by

Industrial Relations Act, 1990, Code of Practice on Employee Representatives (Declaration)

Order 1993

(S.I. No. 169 of 1993), art. 2 and sch.

E11

Code of practice adopted (6.01.1992) by

Industrial Relations Act, 1990, Code of Practice on Dispute Procedures (Declaration)

Order 1992

(S.I. No. 1 of 1992), art. 2 and sch.