ADE/23/118 | DETERMINATION NO. EDA2519 |
SECTION 44, WORKPLACE RELATIONS ACT 2015
SECTION 83 (1), EMPLOYMENT EQUALITY ACTS, 1998 TO 2015
PARTIES:
(REPRESENTED BY IBEC)
AND
MS SIOBHAN MCNALLY
DIVISION:
Chairman: | Ms O'Donnell |
Employer Member: | Ms Doyle |
Worker Member: | Ms Hannick |
SUBJECT:
Appeal of Adjudication Officer Decision No(s) ADJ-00046231 CA-00057126-001
BACKGROUND:
The Worker appealed the decision of the WRC Adjudication Officer under Section 83 (1), Employment Equality Acts, 1998 to 2015 on 22 September 2025. Labour Court hearings took place on 05 February 2025.
The following is the Determination of the Court:
DETERMINATION:
Background to the Appeal
This is an appeal by Ms Siobhan Mc Nally (the Complainant) from decision ADJ-00046231 CA-00057126-001 of an Adjudication Officer, under the Employment Equality Acts 1998 to 2015 in respect of her complaint against her employer Rotunda Hospital (the Respondent).
The Court heard the appeal in Dublin on 5 February 2025, along with six other appeals.
The Adjudication Officer dismissed the claim on the basis that it was frivolous. The complaint was received by the Workplace Relations Commission on 14 June 2023 some forty nine months after her employment with the Respondent had terminated on 20th May 2019 as previously found by the Labour Court in EDA2148 (13 December 2021 and 4 July 2022) and LCR22612 (10th June 2022).
Discussion
In a case where the Adjudication Officer dismisses a complaint as frivolous the role of the Court is limited to determining whether to uphold that finding or set it aside and return the case to the WRC for hearing of the substantive issue.
The decision of the Court that determined the Complainants employment terminated on 20th May 2019 was not appealed. The fact that the Complainant continues to submit claims years after that event, having decided not to appeal that earlier decision, gives support to the finding of the Adjudication Officer that this complaint is frivolous and should be dismissed. The Complainant made a submission and was afforded the opportunity to read same to the Court. The Representative for the Employer read their submission, submitting that the case was frivolous and should be dismissed. Having considered the submissions of both parties the Court finds that the claim lacks any legal merit under the Act and is therefore frivolous.
Determination
The Court finds that the claim is frivolous
The Decision of the Adjudication Officer is upheld
The Court so determines.
![]() | Signed on behalf of the Labour Court |
![]() | |
![]() | Louise O'Donnell |
AL | ______________________ |
11th March 2025 | Deputy Chairman |
NOTE
Enquiries concerning this Determination should be addressed to Amy Leonard, Court Secretary.