Ogier in Ireland's Employment newsletter: March 2025

Welcome to the latest edition of Ogier in Ireland's Employment Newsletter, which includes updates and insights from our dedicated employment experts in Dublin.  

In this first quarterly Employment newsletter, we explore crucial updates affecting employees in Ireland, highlighting entitlements around public holidays, the streamlined process for first-time immigration registration applications, and the significant implications of the General Scheme of the Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024, marking Ireland's response to the EU Pay Transparency Directive, and more.

For any related queries please contact a member of our Employment team in Ireland via their contact details below.

Public holidays in Ireland: entitlements for full-time and part-time employees

With the Easter break approaching, managing associate Mary Gavin and trainee solicitor Rachel Dinneen discuss employee entitlements when public holidays arise as well as restrictions for full employees in Ireland.

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Changes to first-time registration of immigration permission in Ireland

First-time registration applications for foreign nationals seeking to register their immigration permission in Ireland will now be conducted in person at the Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) registration office in Dublin.

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International Employment Lawyer's Guide to Workplace Investigations - Ireland Chapter 2024

Head of Employment and Corporate Immigration in Ireland Bláthnaid Evans and managing associate Mary Gavin recently contributed to the International Employment Lawyer's Guide to Workplace Investigations, published in December 2024.

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Explaining the EU Pay Transparency Directive

Among its provisions, a draft bill proposing significant amendments to Ireland's equality law mandates. Job advertisements must now include salary information and prohibits employers from inquiring about applicants' pay history in line with the EU Pay Transparency Directive.

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Further proposed legislative changes to equality law in Ireland

Other proposed amendments include changes to the time limits within which to make a claim to the Workplace Relations Commission. Although these amendments are at pre-legislation stage, our team can advise on preparing for these changes to ensure your business’ compliance with best practice.

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Key takeaways: demystifying pension auto-enrolment in Ireland

Did you miss our webinar on auto-enrolment, hosted by managing associate Mary Gavin and Fionán O'Sullivan from Trust Matters Financial Planning? Our key takeaways were:

• Ireland will roll out the pension auto-enrolment on 30 September 2025

• the National Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings Authority (NAERSA) will be the department tasked to deal with auto-enrolment

• 800,000 people are set to be auto-enrolled

• auto-enrolment applies to people aged 23 to 60 who earn above €20,000 per annum

• contributions capped at €80,000 per annum

• there is no income tax relief for employee contributions

• earnings with other employers will be taken into account to assess eligibility

• employer contributions are allowed as an expense

• an employee cannot refuse auto enrolment, but can opt out after six months

• if an employee is not eligible, they can still opt into the scheme

• contracts of employment and pension provisions to be reviewed

• consider mandatory enrolment for new employees on occupational scheme

• engage with employees who are not in occupational schemes to ascertain how they would like to proceed