Niamh McGowan

In a statement, the Labour Court said it was “very pleased to welcome” Ms McGowan from today.

Ms McGowan called to the Bar in 2006. She holds a BComm and a diploma in employment law from University College Dublin and a postgraduate diploma in HR management from the University of Limerick.

She was appointed by Alan Dillon, minister of state for employment, small business and retail, following her success in a public competition held by public jobs.

The Labour Court consists of 10 full-time members: a chairman, three deputy chairmen, and six ordinary members, three of whom are employers’ members and three of whom are workers’ members.

The employers’ members are nominated by Ibec (the Irish Business and Employers’ Confederation) and the workers’ members are nominated by ICTU (the Irish Congress of Trades Unions).

Under the Workplace Relations Act 2015, the Labour Court is the main appellate body for disputes from the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC).