How to make an Application: If you want to make an application to have your case heard by the Tribunal you must complete the correct form.
Waiting for a hearing: There is a waiting period to have claims heard.
After a determination: A determination of the Tribunal is recorded in a document signed by the Chairman and sealed with the seal of the Tribunal.

Direct Claims

Guide to Direct Claims

A direct claim may be made to the Tribunal under the following Acts:

Redundancy Payments Acts, 1967 to 2003
Minimum Notice and Terms of Employment Acts, 1973 to 2001
Unfair Dismissals Acts, 1977 to 2001
Organisation of Working Time Act, 1997 (See (1) on notes before completing form T1A)

Claim form T1A should be completed and sent to the Tribunal if a direct claim is being made. Examples of direct claims are as follows:

An appeal by an employee who is dissatisfied with any decision of an employer under the Redundancy Payments Acts;

where an employer claims that the employee’s dismissal was not on grounds of redundancy
where an employer claims that an employee was not long enough in the job to qualify under the Redundancy Payments Acts
where there is a disagreement over the length of time the employee was employed
where an employee claims that his lump sum was wrongly calculated
where the employee has been laid off or put on short-time for a qualifying period and his redundancy has not been conceded on application
where an employee claims that alternative employment which was offered to him/her in a redundancy situation was not suitable
where there is a dispute about continuity of employment e.g. where there has been a change of ownership etc.
where there is a dispute regarding the employee’s entitlement to time off during the two weeks’ notice period to look for new employment or make arrangements for training for future employment.

An appeal by an employee against a decision of a Deciding officer under the Redundancy Payments Acts on any question arising in relation to who is the employer of the employee.

An appeal by an employer under the Redundancy Payments Acts where he is dissatisfied with a decision given by the Minister in relation to his rebate.

A redundancy matter referred by a Deciding Officer to the Tribunal for decision.

A claim under the Unfair Dismissals Acts for redress by an employee where a party has objected in writing to its being heard by a Rights Commissioner.

A claim under the Unfair Dismissals Acts by an employee who has made a parallel claim at common law in respect of the same dismissal will be accepted by the Tribunal. However, at a specified stage in one or other of the respective procedures, the ‘second’ claim is rendered ineffective. More detailed information an this issue can be obtained by referring to Section 10 of the Unfair Dismissals (Amendment) Act, 1993.

For direct claims the following time limits apply:

for a claim under the Redundancy Payments Acts an application must be received by the Tribunal within 52 weeks of the date the redundancy commenced. The Tribunal has discretion to extend this time limit to 104 weeks if there is reasonable cause;
for a claim under the Unfair Dismissals Acts an application must be received by the Tribunal within 6 months of the date the employment ended. The Tribunal has discretion to extend this time limit to 12 months, but only in exceptional circumstances;
Under the Minimum Notice and Terms of Employment Acts there is no time limit specified in the Act for referring a claim to the Tribunal.