Kevin Foley

Kevin Foley has been appointed Chairperson of the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC), one of Ireland's primary institutions for employment relations. His five-year term runs from March 2026 to March 2031, and he is the third person to hold the position since the WRC was established in October 2015.

Foley holds a degree from the Quinn School of Business at University College Dublin (UCD). Prior to joining the Labour Court initially as deputy chair, Foley spent more than 20 years at the Labour Relations Commission where he was director of conciliation. He was Chairman of the Labour Court from July 2016 until his retirement in March 2025. During that period, he retired from the Labour Court and was subsequently appointed to chair the Government-backed Cost of Business Advisory Forum.

Over a career spanning more than 30 years, Foley has resolved many of Ireland's most bitter disputes including those in the Garda Síochána, the ESB, Irish Ferries and Aer Lingus. The Labour Court described Foley as "pivotal" to workplace dispute resolution in Ireland, noting he was "ever the pragmatist" with a "direct style". Over a career spanning more than 40 years, he has worked on disputes involving companies including the HSE, Irish Rail, AIB, and National Irish Bank.

Career history

• Chairperson, Workplace Relations Commission (March 2026–March 2031)
• Chair, Cost of Business Advisory Forum (2025–2026)
• Chairman, Labour Court (July 2016–March 2025)
• Deputy Chair, Labour Court (initially before promotion to Chairman)
• Director of Conciliation, Labour Relations Commission (20+ years)

What Kevin Foley could bring to the Workplace Relations Commission: Drawing on nearly four decades in Irish industrial relations and a proven track record resolving complex, high-stakes employment disputes across major state and private sector organizations, Foley brings pragmatic leadership, deep institutional knowledge of workplace mediation systems, and the credibility among both employers and unions that characterizes his career. His appointment suggests the WRC will prioritize experienced dispute resolution and the continuation of systematic, impartial approaches to Ireland's employment relations challenges.