IrelandI was dismissed within a year of starting. Can I claim?
No, you generally cannot claim unfair dismissal if you were dismissed within one year of starting your job in Ireland, unless you fall under a specific exception.
What the Law Says
The Unfair Dismissals Act 1977 sets the basic eligibility requirement for making an unfair dismissal claim in Ireland.
Under Irish law, most employees must have completed at least 12 months of continuous service with their employer before they can bring a claim for unfair dismissal.
This means if you were dismissed within your first year of employment — for example, after 11 months or less — you are generally not entitled to make a claim under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977.
However, there are limited exceptions — such as dismissals related to pregnancy, trade union membership, or making a protected disclosure — where the 12-month service requirement does not apply.
Statutory TextAn employee shall not be entitled to make a claim under this Act unless he has been employed continuously for a period of twelve months.
— Unfair Dismissals Act 1977, s. 2 — Entitlement to make claim
What to Do
Check your length of continuous service — if it’s less than 12 months, you likely cannot claim unfair dismissal.
Review whether your dismissal may fall under an exemption (e.g., discrimination, whistleblowing, pregnancy).
If unsure, contact the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) for free advice.
Act quickly — complaints to the WRC must usually be made within 6 months of dismissal (extendable to 12 months in exceptional circumstances).
Sources
Not legal advice. This article is general information based on publicly available sources, written for educational purposes. Laws change and individual situations vary. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before acting on anything you read here. Last reviewed: 2026-06-08.