1. Home
  2. Acts
  3. 1977
  4. Click on title below to return to Act

Updated to 16 September 2025 (Act No. 10 of 2025 and S.I. No. 431 of 2025)

All effects below are reflected in the most recent Revised Act.

Unfair Dismissals Act 1977
No. 10 of 1977

Contents

Commencement

Section Commencement/Effective Date
Where the commencement and effective dates differ, the effective date is shown below.
 Commencement Information
Whole Act 9 May 1977 Unfair Dismissals Act, 1977 (Commencement) Order 1977 (S.I. No. 138 of 1977), art. 2

Amendments and other effects

How AffectedAffecting Provision
Act included in collectively cited Unfair Dismissals Acts 1977 to 2015 5/1991, s. 8(6)
  22/1993, s. 17(2)
  45/2001, s. 1(6)
  18/2005, s. 1(3)
  27/2007, s. 1(4)
  27/2015, s. 1(4)
Collectively cited Unfair Dismissals Acts included in definitions of employment, relevant enactments 16/2015, s. 2 and sch. 1 item 14
Deemed date of dismissal for purposes of Act 35/2019, s. 22(4)
Application restricted by availability of alternative remedy S.I. No. 233 of 2023, regs. 1(2), 89(9)
  24/2022, ss. 1(2), 12(2)
  50/2021, s. 153 and sch. 9 para. 3(1)(a), (b)
  S.I. No. 195 of 2020, reg. 9
  27/2015, s. 20(4)
  S.I. No. 289 of 2015, reg. 40(4)(b)
  13/2012, s. 23(2), 24(2)(col. cit.)
  40/2011, ss. 1(2), 67(5) & sch. 4, para. 3(8)(b) (col. cit.)
  27/2011, ss. 1(3), 20(4), 70(3)(b) (col. cit.)
  22/2011, ss. 1(2), 20(4)(b) (col. cit.)
  36/2010. ss. 1(2), 23(3)(b), 44(6)(b) (col. cit.)
  10/2010, s. 38(3) (col. cit.)
  34/2009, ss. 1(2), 223(5)
  6/2009, ss. 1(2), 62(3) (col. cit.)
  1/2009, s. 19(5)(b) (col. cit.)
  S.I. No. 157 of 2008, reg. 39(9) (col. cit.)
  19/2007, s. 87(4) and sch. 8 para. 4(2)
  S.I. No. 285 of 2007, reg. 9(7) (col. cit.)
  S.I. No. 259 of 2007, reg. 20(8)
  16/2006, s. 26(5)
  9/2006, s. 13(7)
  S.I. No. 623 of 2006, reg. 19(8) (col. cit.)
  10/2005, s. 27(5)
  42/2004, s. 55M(4) as inserted by 23/2007, s. 103(1)
  29/2003, s. 18(1)
  S.I. No. 469 of 2003, reg. 10(4) as inserted by S.I. No. 95 of 2008, reg. 3(d)
  S.I. No. 131 of 2003, reg. 5(4) (col. cit.)
  14/2002, ss. 2, 50(3), (4) & sch. 3, par. 3
  27/2001, s. 8A(5) and sch. 1 para. 3(8) as inserted by 33/2010, s. 6(8)
  19/2001, s. 16(3)
  49/1998, ss. 4(3), 7(2)
  30/1998, s. 16A(3) as inserted by 13/2008, ss. 1(2), 26(3) (col. cit.)
  21/1998, ss. 1(2), 101(2)(b) as inserted by 24/2004, s. 46 and sch. para. 30
  21/1998, ss. 1(2), 101(2)(b), 101(4)(b), 101(5)(b)
  20/1997, ss. 1(2), 26(2)
  15/1987, s. 13B(3) as inserted by 38/2009, s. 7
Appl. 22/2011, ss. 1(2), 20 (col. cit.)
  10/2005, ss. 1(2), 27(2)(a), (4)
  29/2003, s. 18(1)
  12/2003, ss. 1(2), 36, sch. 3, par. 10(5)
  20/2002, ss. 4, 20(4)
  14/2002, ss. 2, 55, sch. 2, par. 2 (6)
  6/2002, ss. 1(2), 31(3)
  54/2001, s. 16(3)
  43/2001, s. 15(8)
  19/2001, s.16(4)(a)
  22/2000, ss. 1(2), (3), 40(3)
  S.I. No. 445 of 2000, regs. 1(2)(a), 14(5) (col. cit.)
  6/1999, s. 22(6)
  1/1999, ss. 1(2), 40(6)
  26/1998, ss. 46(6), 51(4)
  S. I. No. 92 of 1997, art. 8(3)
  S. I. No. 91 of 1997, art. 8(3)
  S. I. No. 90 of 1997, art. 8(3)
  S. I. No. 89 of 1997, art. 8(3)
  S. I. No. 88 of 1997, art. 8(3)
  11/1997, ss. 1(4), 30(6), 31(3)
  27/1996, ss. 1(2), 8(4)
  11/1996, ss. 1(2), 39(4) (a)
  32/1995, s. 22(3)
  2/1995, ss. 1(2), 26(2)
  S. I. No. 198 of 1995, art. 7(1)
  S. I. No. 228 of 1994 art. 7(1), (2)
  34/1994, ss. 1(2), 40(4)
  S. I. No. 236 of 1993 art. 7(1), (2)
  29/1993, ss. 1(2), 40(3)
  22/1993, ss. 13, 17(4)
  14/1993, ss. 3, 31(7)
  7/1992, s. 31(4)
  9/1991, s. 12(8)
  2/1991, s. 8(9)
  21/1989, ss. 2, 53(5)
  7/1989, ss. 1(2), 20(6)
  24/1983, s. 45(5)
  2/1981, ss. 1, 26(4)
Application of Act extended 34/1994, s. 28(3)
Appl. with mods. 11/2016, s. 26(4)
  5/2000, ss. 1(2), 36(2)
  5/1991, ss. 2(3)(b)(iii), 8(9)
Constr. of refs.. 16/2015, ss. 1(2), 66(2), (3)
  19/1990, s.35 (1)
  22/1993, ss. 13, 17(4)
Forms and procedures prescribed S.I. No. 510 of 2001, ord. 57, rl. 1, par. 2 & sch. form 36A
Min. may refuse permit for offence under 16/2006, s. 12(1)(c) and sch. 1, s. 41(4)(col. cit.)
Power to mod. by regs. 2/1981, ss. 1, 27(4)
Trans. of functns. under. S.I. No. 438 of 2020, arts. 1(2), 2, 3, sch. part. 2
  S.I. No. 361 of 2017, arts. 1(2), 2, 3 and sch.
  42/2004, ss. 3(1), 4, 58, 59 (1) (2) (3), sch. 3 item 55
  S. I. No. 18 of 1993, art. 4, sch., pt. 1
Delegation of functns. under. S. I. No. 809 of 2004, art. 2 (a), sch., pt. 1
S. 1 am. 16/2015, ss. 1(2), 80(1)(a), (2)
  9/2015, ss. 1(5), 174
  14/2014, ss. 1(2), 11(1)(a)
  1/2014, ss. 1(22), 5(8), sch. 2 pt. 6
S. 1 modified S. I. No. 357 of 1981, regs. 3-5
S. 1, def. ins. 2/1995, ss. 1(2), 22
S. 1, defs am., subsecs. (2) (3) added. 22/1993, ss. 2, 17 (4)
S. 1(1) am. 27/2007, s. 24
S. 2 modified S. I. No. 357 of 1981, regs. 3-5
S. 2(1) reference to Minister construed S.I. No. 438 of 2020, arts. 1(2), 2, 3, sch. part. 2
S. 2(1) am. 34/1994, ss. 1(2), 38 (1)
S. 2(1), applic. rstrct. 22/1993, ss. 14, 17(4)
S. 2(1)(a) am. 34/1994, ss. 1(2), 38(1)
S. 2(1)(b) amended 21/1998, s. 6(3)(d) as substituted by 24/2004, s. 4(c)
S. 2(1)(c) am. 24/2010, ss. 1(2), 170 & schedule, pt. 5, item 7
S. 2(1)(d) persons excluded from remedy under 14/2014, s. 12(3)
S. 2(1)(h), par. substit. 18/2005, ss. 2(1), 22(a)
S. 2(1)(i) substit. 1/2014, ss. 1(22), 5(8), sch. 2 pt. 6
S. 2(1)(j) rstrct. 32/1996, ss. 14(6), 25(3)
S. 2(1)(j) rep. 11/2013, ss. 1(2), 64
S. 2(1)(j) substit. 22/1993, ss. 3(a), 17(4)
  42/2004, ss. 3(1), 75, sch. 6, pt. 6
S. 2(1)(k) substituted 17/2019, ss. 1(2), 34
  40/2013, ss. 1(2), 97 and sch. 2 pt. 3
S. 2(1)(l) ins. 40/2013, ss. 1(2), 97 and sch. 2 pt. 3
S. 2(1)(i), par. substit. 37/2001, ss. 7, 164
S. 2(2) am. 27/2007, s. 25(1)(a) and (b)
S. 2(2)(b), prov. added 22/1993, ss. 3(b), 17 (4)
S. 2(2)(c) ins. 2/1981, ss. 1, 24
S. 2(2)(c), par. substit. 34/1994, ss. 1(2), 38(2)
  28/2004, ss. 23(a), 27(3)
S. 2(2)(d) am. 19/2001, s. 27(1)
S. 2(2)(d), par. ins. 2/1995, ss. 1(2), 23
S. 2(2)(d) substit. 25/2005, ss. 18, 22(3)
S. 2(2)(e), par. ins. 19/2001, s. 27(1)
S. 2(2A) subsec. ins. 27/2007, s. 25(2)
S. 2(2A)(d) am. 16/2015, ss. 1(2), 80(1)(b), (2)
S. 2(2B) subsec. ins. 27/2007, s. 25(2)
S. 2(4) am. 21/1984, s. 11(6)
S. 2(5) am. 27/2007, s. 25(3)
S. 2(5), subsec. ins. 22/1993, ss. 3(c), 17(4)
S. 2A, new s. 18/2005, ss. 2(1), 22(b)
S. 2A(5) am. 16/2015, ss. 1(2), 80(1)(c), (2)
Ss. 3, 4, am. 34/1994, ss. 1(2), 38(3)
Ss. 3, 4, applic. rstrct. 22/1993, ss. 14, 17(4)
S. 5(1) substituted 22/1993, ss. 4, 17(4)
S. 5(2) substituted 22/1993, ss. 4, 17(4)
S. 5(2A) am. 16/2015, ss. 1(2), 80(1)(d), (2)
S. 5(2A) subsec. ins. 27/2007, s. 26
S. 5(3) substituted 22/1993, ss. 4, 17(4)
S. 6(1), appl. with mod. 5/2000, ss. 1 (2), 36(2)
S. 6(1), applic. rstrct. 22/1993, ss. 14, 17(4)
S. 6(2)(a), protection under ctd. in cert. circs. S.I. No. 131 of 2003, reg. 7(3)
S. 6(2)(dd) amended 8/2023, ss. 1(3), 33
S. 6(2)(h) amended 11/2016, ss. 1(2), 33(a)(i)
S. 6(2)(i) inserted 11/2016, ss. 1(2), 33(a)(ii)
S. 6(2)(aa) inserted 27/2015, ss. 1(5), 39
S. 6(2)(ba), par. ins. 14/2014, ss. 1(2), 11(1)(b), (2), sch. 1
S. 6(2)(dd), par. ins. 30/1998, ss. 1(2), 25(2)(a)
S. 6(2)(dd), par. substit. 19/2001, s. 27(2)(a)
S. 6(2)(e) substit. 22/1993, ss. 5(a), 17(4)
S. 6(2)(f), (g), pars. substit. 34/1994, ss. 1(2), 38(4)
  28/2004, ss. 23(b), 27(3)
S. 6(2)(f),appl. ext. 31/2001, ss. 5(3), 29(2)
S. 6(2)(g) ins. 2/1981, ss. 1, 25
S. 6(2)(h), par. ins. 2/1995, ss. 1(2), 24
S. 6(2)(h) substit. 25/2005, ss. 19, 22(3)
S. 6(2)(j) inserted 35/2019, ss. 1(2), 34(a)
S. 6(2A) amended 35/2019, ss. 1(2), 34(b)
  11/2016, ss. 1(2), 33(b)
S. 6(2A), subsec. ins. 34/1994, ss. 1(2), 38(5)
S. 6(2A), subsec. substit. 2/1995, ss. 1(2), 25
S. 6(2B), subsec. ins. 30/1998, ss. 1(2), 25(2) (b)
S. 6(2C), subsec. ins. 19/2001, s.27 (2) (b)
S. 6(2D), subsec. ins. 14/2014, ss. 1(2), 11(1)(c)
S. 6(6), appl. rstrct. 22/1993, ss. 14, 17(4)
S. 6(6), saver for. S.I. No. 337 of 2001, reg. 3(2)
S. 6(7) am. 16/2015, ss. 1(2), 80(1)(e), (2)
S. 6(7), substit. 22/1993, ss. 5(b), 17(4)
S. 7 rstrct. 16/1977, s. 27(3)
S. 7(1) am. 16/2015, ss. 1(2), 80(1)(f), (2)
S. 7(1)(c) substit. (only for the purposes of 27/2007) 27/2007, s. 9(3)(a). Note also s. 3
S. 7(1)(c) substit. 22/1993, ss. 6(a), 17(4)
S. 7(1A) subsec. ins. 14/2014, ss. 1(2), 11(1)(d)
S. 7(2) substit. (only for the purposes of 27/2007) 27/2007, s. 9(3)(b). Note also s. 3
S. 7(2)(c) am. 22/1993, ss. 6(b), 17(4)
S. 7(2)(d) substit. 22/1993, ss. 6(b), 17(4)
S. 7(2A), subsec ins. 22/1993, ss. 6(c), 17(4)
S. 7(2B), subsec. ins. 14/2014, ss. 1(2), 11(1)(e)
S. 8(1) substituted 22/2015, ss. 14(1)(a), 14(4)
S. 8(1) substit. 16/2015, ss. 1(2), 80(1)(g)(ii), (2)
S. 8(1A) substituted 22/2015, ss. 14(1)(b), 14(4)
S. 8(1A) ins. 22/1993, ss. 7(a), 17(4)
S. 8(1A)(a) am. 16/2015, ss. 1(2), 80(1)(g)(iii), (2)
S. 8(1A)(b)-(c) del. 16/2015, ss. 1(2), 80(1)(g)(i), (2)
S. 8(1B) inserted 22/2015, ss. 14(1)(c), 14(4)
S. 8(1B) ins. 16/2015, ss. 1(2), 80(1)(g)(iv), (2)
S. 8(2) amended 22/2015, ss. 14(1)(d)(i), 14(4)
  16/2015, ss. 1(2), 80(1)(g)(v), (2)
S. 8(2) substit. 22/1993, ss. 7(a), 17(4)
S. 8(2) notice prescribed S.I. No. 286 of 1977, reg. 3
S. 8(2)(b) substituted 22/2015, ss. 14(1)(d)(ii), 14(4)
S. 8(3) deleted 22/2015, ss. 14(1)(e), 14(4)
S. 8(3) del. 16/2015, ss. 1(2), 80(1)(g)(i), (2)
S. 8(3) substit. 22/1993, ss. 7(a), 17(4)
S. 8(3), appl. with mod. 2/1981, ss. 1, 27(3)
S. 8(4) deleted 22/2015, ss. 14(1)(e), 14(4)
S. 8(4) del. 16/2015, ss. 1(2), 80(1)(g)(i), (2)
S. 8(4) substit. 22/1993, ss. 7(a), 17(4)
S. 8(4) notice prescribed S.I. No. 286 of 1977, reg. 3
S. 8(4)(a) mod. S. I. No. 357 of 1981, reg. 6
S. 8(4)(a), appl. with mod. 2/1981, ss. 1, 27(3)
s. 8(5) deleted 22/2015, ss. 14(1)(e), 14(4)
S. 8(5) del. 16/2015, ss. 1(2), 80(1)(g)(i), (2)
S. 8(5), am. and par. (b) substit. 22/1993, ss. 7(b), 17(4)
S. 8(5), appl. with mod. 2/1981, ss. 1, 27(3)
S. 8(6)*
S. 8(6) am. 16/2015, ss. 1(2), 80(1)(g)(vii), (2)
S. 8(6) substituted 29/2021, ss. 9(a), 14(2)
S. 8(6), appl. with mod. 2/1981, ss. 1, 27(3)
S. 8(7) substit. 16/2015, ss. 1(2), 80(1)(g)(viii), (2)
S. 8(7), appl. with mod. 2/1981, ss. 1, 27(3)
S. 8(8) deleted 22/2015, ss. 14(1)(e), 14(4)
S. 8(8) am. 16/2015, ss. 1(2), 80(1)(g)(x), (2)
S. 8(8), appl. with mod. 2/1981, ss. 1, 27(3)
S. 8(8)(a) substit. 16/2015, ss. 1(2), 80(1)(g)(ix), (2)
S. 8(8)(g) am. 16/2015, ss. 1(2), 80(1)(g)(xi), (2)
S. 8(9) deleted 22/2015, ss. 14(1)(e), 14(4)
S. 8(9) del. 16/2015, ss. 1(2), 80(1)(g)(i), (2)
S. 8(9), appl. with mod. 2/1981, ss. 1, 27(3)
S. 8(9) am. 22/1993, ss. 7(c), 17(4)
S. 8(10) substituted 22/2015, ss. 14(1)(f), 14(4)
S. 8(10) del. 16/2015, ss. 1(2), 80(1)(g)(i), (2)
S. 8(10), appl. with mod. 2/1981, ss. 1, 27(3)
S. 8(10), substit. 22/1993, ss. 7(d), 17(4)
S. 8(11) ins. 22/1993, ss. 7(d), 17(4)
S. 8(12) am. 16/2015, ss. 1(2), 80(1)(g)(xii), (2)
S. 8(12) ins. 22/1993, ss. 7(d), 17(4)
S. 8(13) inserted 38/2018, ss. 1(2),, (3), 4
S. 8(14) inserted 29/2021, ss. 9(b), 14(2)
Ss. 8A-8C ins. 16/2015, ss. 1(2), 80(1)(h), (2)
S. 8A(2) substituted 22/2015, ss. 14(2), 14(4)
S. 9 del. 16/2015, ss. 1(2), 80(1)(i), (2)
S. 9(1), appl. with mod. 2/1981, ss. 1, 27(3)
S. 9(2) am. 22/1993, ss. 8, 17(4)
S. 9(2) notice prescribed S.I. No. 286 of 1977, reg. 3
Ss. 10, 11, appl. with mod. 2/1981, ss. 1, 27(3)
S. 10 rep. 22/1993, ss. 16, 17(4)
S. 10A ins. 16/2015, ss. 1(2), 80(1)(j), (2)
S. 11 substit. 16/2015, ss. 1(2), 80(1)(k), (2)
S. 11(2) amended 22/2015, ss. 14(3), 14(4)
S. 14(1) provision specified 16/2015, ss. 1(2), 28(17), sch. 4
S. 14(2) provision specified 16/2015, ss. 1(2), 28(17), sch. 4
S. 14 (3) substit. 22/1993, ss. 9, 17(4)
S. 14(4) provision specified 16/2015, ss. 1(2), 28(17), sch. 4
S. 14(4) substit. 22/1993, ss. 9, 17(4)
S. 15(2) am. 16/2015, ss. 1(2), 80(1)(l), (2)
S. 15(2)substit. 22/1993, ss. 10, 17(4)
S. 15(3) substit. 22/1993, ss. 10, 17(4)
S. 17 applied S.I. No. 36 of 2012, reg. 18(3)(c)
  22/2011, ss. 1(2), 3 & sch. 2, para. 1(3)(c)
  19/2007, s. 1(2), 87 & sch. 6, para. 2(2)(c)
S. 17, regs. appl. 22/2011, ss. 1(2), 20 & sch. 2
  6/2009, ss. 1(2), 62(5)(c)
  13/2008, ss. 1(2), 26(5)(c)
  S.I. No. 131 of 2003, reg. 10(5)(c)
  14/2002, ss. 2, 50(3) (4), sch. 2, par. 5(c)
  S.I. No. 488 of 2000, reg. 6(2)(c)
  S.I. No. 487 of 2000, reg. 5(2)(c)
S. 17, regs. appl. with mods. 5/1991, ss. 6(3), 8(9)
S. 18 EAT construed 16/2015, s. 66

SIs made under the Act

SectionSIs made under the Act
S. 17 Unfair Dismissals (Calculation of Weekly Remuneration) Regulations 1977 (S.I. No. 287 of 1977)
  Unfair Dismissals (Claims and Appeals) Regulations 1977 (S.I. No. 286 of 1977)

* On 06/04/2024, the Supreme Court found in Tomasz Zalewski v The Workplace Relations Commission, an Adjudication Officer [Y], Ireland and the Attorney General that section 8(6) of the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977 was not compatible with Article 34 of the Constitution.