Labour Court Deputy Chairman Kevin Duffy is to take over as chairman of the Court when the current chairman, Finbarr Flood, retires at the end of this week.
Mr Duffy, 54, began his career as a bricklayer, and was an official of the Bricklayers' Union for 15 years.
In 1987, he joined the Irish Congress of Trade Unions as Assistant General Secretary in charge of industrial relations.
He was appointed Deputy Chairman of the Labour Court in 1997.
Mr Duffy qualified as a barrister last July.
The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment has not yet announced who will replace Mr Duffy as Deputy Chairman of the Court.
