Monday, 9th November 2026
The Minister of State for Employment, Small Business and Retail, Alan Dillon TD, has today announced the appointment of Ms Fiona Higgins as an Ordinary Member of the Board of the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC). The appointment follows an open selection process conducted by the Public Appointments Service (PAS).
Announcing the appointment, Minister Dillon said:
“I am pleased to appoint Ms Fiona Higgins to the Board of the Workplace Relations Commission. The WRC plays a vital role in promoting positive workplace relations and ensuring that employers and employees have access to high-quality services. I am confident that Ms Higgins’ skills and experience will make a valuable contribution to the Commission’s important work.”
Minister Dillon wished Ms Higgins every success in her new role and thanked the members of the WRC Board for their continued commitment to supporting effective employment rights and industrial relations services.
The appointment takes effect from 9 November 2026 and is made in accordance with the Workplace Relations Act 2015.
ENDS
Notes for Editors
Fiona Higgins:
Fiona Higgins is Head of Advocacy Services at Ibec, where she leads a team of employer relations specialists and brings over 25 years' experience in industrial relations, employment law, and workplace relations. Fiona has extensive experience engaging with employers, the Workplace Relations Commission and the Labour Court.
Workplace Relations Commission:
The WRC is an independent statutory body established under the Workplace Relations Act 2015. Its overall purpose is to promote the improvement and maintenance of good workplace relations and to support compliance with employment law.
Its principal functions include providing information to employees, employers, and the public; offering mediation and conciliation to help resolve workplace complaints and industrial relations disputes; adjudicating complaints under employment rights, equality, and related legislation; inspecting employment records and workplaces; and taking enforcement action where breaches are identified and compliance cannot be achieved.
WRC Board:
The WRC Board comprises eight ordinary members and the Chair as provided under the Workplace Relations Act 2015.
The Board prepares and submits a three-year strategy statement and an annual work programme to the Minister which takes account of advice from the Director General of the WRC. These documents set out the Commission’s strategic priorities and planned activities.
They also provide a framework for assessing its performance.
Chairperson - Kevin Foley
Ordinary Members -Barry O'Brien, Brendan McGinty, George Maybury, Judith Fitzgerald, Rachael Ryan, Sinead Gogan, and Virginija Petrauskaite.
Workplace Relations Commission
The appointment of Ms Higgins will bring the Board to its full statutory capacity of Chairperson and eight ordinary members.
For further information please contact Press Office, Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, press.office@enterprise.gov.ie or (01) 631-2200