Barrister named as Labour Court chair
Qualified barrister Louise O’Donnell has been appointed as chair of the Labour Court after a Public Appointments Service open competition.
O’Donnell, a former trade union official, has previously sat as a deputy chair in the Labour Court. She succeeds Kevin Foley.
The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment described her as “a vastly experienced senior industrial-relations practitioner.
It added that she had “a wealth of experience” in the resolution of significant industrial-relations disputes.
Minister Peter Burke said that he looked forward to supporting the new chair and the court.
“We recognise the economic importance of their role in maintaining industrial peace for workers and employers alike, as well as being the appellant court for employment-rights cases,” he stated.