Ryanair has won its appeal challenging the right of the Labour Court to investigate complaints by the airline's pilots.
The Supreme Court found that procedures used by the Labour Court in its preliminary hearing were flawed, and has ordered a re-hearing of the case, though with full court procedures to ensure that the rights of all parties - including the employer - are protected.
Ryanair has welcomed the ruling, but IMPACT, which took the case on behalf of the pilots, expressed disappointment. But the union welcomed the fact that a re-hearing had been ordered.
Under new legislation introduced in 2004, workers in companies which do not recognise unions can have their grievances investigated by the Labour Court - with or without the participation of the employer in question.
Ryanair had argued that the legislation was never intended to apply to what it called 'high-pay multi-nationals', and had accused the new legislation of introducing compulsory union recognition by the back door.
The High Court dismissed Ryanair's bid to halt the Labour Court investigations but the airline appealed to the Supreme Court. The Ryanair case was viewed as a crucial test case in establishing the scope of the new legislation.
