Civil servants’ contracts case referred to Europe

THE Labour Court is to seek advice from the European Court of Justice about issues raised in the State’s appeal against a finding that it had breached the rights of civil servants.

In a decision last February, the Rights Commissioner found that Government departments had flouted legal protections for civil servants on fixed-term contracts. It ordered a number of departments to pay compensation totalling €217,500, plus an undisclosed amount of back pay, to 91 civil servants on temporary contracts. The highest individual compensation awards were worth €40,000.

IMPACT trade union, which represents the staff, yesterday welcomed the Labour Court move and called on the Government to facilitate a speedy conclusion to the case.