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WRC urged to push ahead with remote hearings

Law Society President Michele O’Boyle (pictured) has said the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) should look at the potential for the use of remote technology in mediation.

In April, the WRC issued a consultation paper on the prospect of virtual hearings.

Consultation

The proposal came in a letter to the WRC written as part of a consultation process on how the commission should deal with complaints during the COVID-19 crisis.

In the latest president’s bulletin, Michele O’Boyle also urged the commission to invite parties to statutory claims to voluntarily seek determination by written procedure alone on consent.

She also said the WRC should be “receptive” to parties seeking virtual hearings on consent.

Notice

Among the society’s other proposals, developed with the help of its Employment Law Committee, were that the WRC designate staff to respond to any technical queries about the use of remote technology, and that it list virtual hearings with enough notice to enable the parties involved to exchange the required documents in advance.

In a document published last month, the WRC urged all parties to engage with its mediation process as much as possible.

It also said it was conducting trials of virtual hearings, using the ‘WebEx’ platform which is also being used by the Labour Court.