Kevin Foley Appointed Chairperson of the Workplace Relations Commission

Kevin Foley, a former Chairman of the Labour Court, has been appointed as the new Chairperson of the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC). The appointment, announced on February 27, 2026, follows an open recruitment process managed by publicjobs, the Public Appointments Service [1].

Appointment Details

Mr. Foley’s five-year term will begin in March 2026 and conclude in March 2031. He will be the third Chairperson of the WRC since its establishment in October 2015 [1]. Prior to this appointment, Mr. Foley served as Chairman of the Labour Court from July 2016 until his retirement in March 2025 [1]. He also has prior experience with the Labour Relations Commission, the WRC’s predecessor [1], [3].

Statements from Officials

Minister of State for Employment, Small Business and Retail, Alan Dillon, expressed his satisfaction with the appointment, highlighting Mr. Foley’s extensive experience in industrial relations, dispute resolution, and public service [1]. Minister Dillon stated that Mr. Foley’s leadership will be crucial in furthering the WRC’s mission to promote fair, compliant, and productive workplaces throughout the Irish economy [1].

Additional Board Appointment

Alongside Mr. Foley’s appointment, Alan Dillon also announced the appointment of Rachael Ryan to the board of the WRC. Ms. Ryan currently serves as the head of the Legal Rights Unit at SIPTU [1].

Background on Kevin Foley

Kevin Foley has a long and distinguished career in employment relations. He is a former Chief Conciliator of the Labour Relations Commission [2]. During his time at the Labour Relations Commission, he was involved in resolving disputes across the public and private sectors [3]. The Labour Court described him as “pivotal” in workplace mediations and early resolution services [4].