New Chairperson of the Labour Court

Minister for Labour Affairs Mr. Frank Fahey T.D., today announced that he is appointing Mr Kevin Duffy as Chairman of the Labour Court. The appointment will take effect on the 21^st of December 2003 following the retirement of the current Chairman Mr Finbarr Flood.

In making the announcement Minister Fahey thanked Mr Flood for his significant service and for the key role he has played in Industrial Relations matters in Ireland both as chairman since 1998 and before that as deputy chairman of the Labour Court between 1994 and 1998. He said that Mr Flood has been a well-liked and very highly regarded chairman.

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Notes for Editors

Mr Kevin Duffy has been Deputy Chairman of the Labour Court since 1997. Prior to that he was Assistant General Secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions since 1988 with responsibility for industrial relations and trade union organisation. Before taking up the position of Assistant General Secretary of Congress, Mr Duffy was General Secretary of the Ancient Guild of Incorporated Brick and Stonelayers' and Allied Trades Union (now part of the Building and Allied Trades' Union).

Mr Duffy has been a member of the Labour Relations Commission, the Civil Service Arbitration Board and the Board of FÁS.

ENDS