Employment lawyers have expressed their concerns over the new Workplace Relations Commission process, arguing that it is fundamentally flawed and will be challenged in the courts.
The Government has passed legislation to streamline both the bodies and the processes for hearing grievances from 1 October.
Up to now five bodies had determined work related claims: the Labour Relations Commission, the Employment Appeals Tribunal, the Labour Court, the National Employment Rights Authority and the Equality Tribunal.
Minister for Jobs Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton anticipates that the new structures will be cheaper, more efficient and more user-friendly.
The Workplace Relations Commission will hear all claims at first instance while all appeals will be handled by an expanded Labour Court.
Speaking on RTÉ's This Week, employment lawyer Peter Ward said that there was a need for reform and that it was an urgent necessity.
Mr Ward said the new system was flawed and now does not have an independent legally qualified chairperson to hear cases, which will no longer be heard in public.
He said that the system rejects the constitutional right of a person to have their hearing administered in accordance with law.
Mr Ward said adjudication officers with no legal qualifications will determine people's cases alone, in private and produce determinations without revealing the identity of parties involved.
He said that people who hear the cases should be adequately qualified in the process.
Director General of the Workplace Relations Commission Kieran Mulvey said that from an administrative point of view all the hearings will be held in one place and that the reform was long overdue.
He said the reason for the reform is to eliminate the years of delays on the basic principle that justice delayed is justice denied.
Mr Mulvey has said that over the years a system of first instance had been established through the equality and rights commissioners service and were not legal professionals.
He said since 1969 there has never been a Judicial Review of any of the Rights Commissioners rulings.
Mr Mulvey said current adjudicators have gone through rigorous employment training and the Labour Court will still be the appellate body for any rulings.
Mr Mulvey said most trade unions and employers said they would prefer that cases be heard in private and said individuals do not wish their employment problems be heard in public.
