HR professionals gathered in Dublin for a full day of learning on some of the most pressing employment law challenges facing organisations in Ireland and across the EU.
The CIPD in Ireland Employment Law Conference, supported by Adare Trusted People Partners, took place on 27 May 2026 at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. The theme, “Employment law in motion: Strengthening resilience, preparing for risk”, reflected the pace of change facing people professionals, from new EU directives and longer working lives to ongoing restructuring and shifting workforce expectations.
Country Director Alison Hodgson opened the conference, setting the tone for a day focused on practical action alongside legal theory. MC Meg Dunphy, Policy and Engagement Lead, having crafted the agenda from the outset, kept proceedings moving through a packed programme of expert sessions and panel discussions.
Yvonne White, FCIPD, Assistant Secretary General at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, opened the morning sessions with a clear-eyed look at what Ireland's EU Presidency means in practice for employers and HR teams.
Her key message was that worker protection and competitiveness are not in conflict. The Presidency gives Ireland an opportunity to shape policy that works for both employers and employees, and people professionals are well placed to make that case within their organisations.
The conference was joined by another leading voice in Kieran Mulvey, Chairperson, Adare Trusted People Partners and Former Director General of the Workplace Relations Commission. He reflected on the evolution of the industrial relations landscape in Ireland over his tenure as Director General and shared insights with employers and practitioners in the room.
Katie Ridge, MCIPD, Barrister-at-Law and Head of Employer Relations at Adare Trusted People Partners, walked delegates through the EU Pay Transparency Directive and what it means for employers. While transposing legislation may not land by the June 2026 deadline, it is likely to land in Q3, and organisations need to start preparing now.
The changes go beyond process. Banning pay secrecy clauses, responding to new employee information rights and expanding gender pay gap reporting all require a cultural shift in how organisations talk about pay. People professionals have a central role to play in leading that shift.
Maria McAnearney, Manager, KPMG broke down the EU AI Act and its practical implications for people professionals. If your organisation uses or sells AI in the EU, you need to comply with the Act.
McAnearney pointed to several areas of concern for HR. The Act makes AI literacy a legal requirement, meaning employers need to provide ongoing training and close knowledge gaps. She also flagged "shadow AI" — staff using AI tools without organisational sign-off — as a real risk. Recruitment and performance management both carry particular obligations around transparency and oversight.
A candid panel discussion, chaired by Derek McKay, FCIPD, Director and Founder, Adare Trusted People Partners, explored the employment law decisions that keep senior leaders up at night. Panellists included Anita Walsh, Director of People and Culture, Entegro, Debbie Low, Director of People and Culture, The Convention Centre Dublin, and Niall Eyre, FCIPD, former Global HR leader at Intel.
The panel explored how the employer-employee relationship has changed. Loyalty is no longer a given. Employees have a stronger voice, higher expectations, and are more willing to move on if those expectations go unmet. The panel agreed that clear communication and well-equipped managers are essential to navigating this shift.
Paul D. Maier BL delivered a practical session on one of the trickier areas of employment law: determining whether someone is an employee or self-employed. He walked delegates through the Karshan case and Revenue's five-part framework for assessing employment status. This area of law continues to evolve, and Maier signalled that further changes are likely.
Michelle McDonagh, MCIPD, Chief Client Officer at Adare Trusted People Partners, challenged delegates to rethink how they approach workforce restructuring. Done well, restructuring is not a negative event but a chance to build capability and prepare for what comes next.
McDonagh stressed the importance of clearly defining grounds for redundancy, understanding when situations are collective versus individual, and building in robust scenario planning. She also pointed to redeployment and role redesign as underused options, particularly in the public sector.
With one in five workers in Ireland now aged over 55, organisations need to think seriously about how they support longer working lives. A panel chaired by Katie Ridge, with Ciara Turner, HR Director, Woodies and former Garda Inspector Antoinette Cunningham, explored how employers are moving towards a more capability-focused approach to retirement.
The panel stressed the critical role of manager capability and the need for stronger succession planning. In a less predictable environment, agility matters.
"We know that having a job is one of the key things that helps people turn their lives around after leaving prison. HR professionals are uniquely placed to help more vulnerable groups navigate those first few months in a job."
The CIPD used the conference to announce the expansion of the CIPD Trust to Ireland. The Trust, which launched in the UK in 2022, is the charitable arm of the CIPD. It pairs HR professionals with people who have minor convictions to help them find and keep work.
The first Irish pilot will be led by Meg Dunphy, Policy and Engagement Lead, and runs in partnership with Tosú, an Irish charity that supports and rehabilitates people with convictions. HR professionals will volunteer to mentor someone into employment and help them navigate and stay in the workplace.
“When someone has paid their debt to society, they deserve a fair chance to rebuild their future. Talent is everywhere, opportunity is not. You can't underestimate the impact the act of giving hope to someone can do to positively to change their life.”
Meg Dunphy made a direct call to action in her fireside chat with Sally Elley, Head of the CIPD Trust, asking HR professionals across Ireland to volunteer their time and get involved in the pilot. Ray Power, prison reform and mental health advocate, spoke movingly about the difference that opportunity can make for people rebuilding their lives after a conviction and the power that HR professionals have in making workplaces more inclusive. Jacob Harmon, Operations Manager at Tosú reinforced this message and reassured the delegates there is lots of support for organisations. Fiona Sharkey, Partner, McInnes Dunne Murphy, set the legal scene flagging convictions spent legislation and disclosure but stressed that employers must be proportionate, reasonable and fair when weighing up whether to hire.
Senior Counsel Peter Ward, Employment Bar Association, closed the day with reflections drawn from a long career in employment law. His message was straightforward: get the fundamentals right. A strong grasp of employment contracts and the policies you apply is the best defence against costly disputes. Another key takeaway was the importance of people professionals being clear about the role they are playing in different situations. Peter noted that there is rarely such a thing as an “off the record” or fully confidential conversation, and that information shared should be considered carefully, addressed appropriately and recorded in a timely way. He also reflected on how much the HR profession has evolved, and the growing complexity that people professionals now face every day.
We’re thrilled to have delivered another successful specialised conference and also grateful to Adare Trusted People Partners for supporting it, as well as all of our exhibitors: HRLocker, DeCare, HSF Health Plan, The Mediators’ Institute of Ireland, Remote, SkillsTrust, Work Permits Ireland and the Workplace Relations Commission.
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