On 1 August 2025, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) imposed a €1.5 million fine on Ireland for failing to fully transpose the 2019 Work-Life Balance Directive within the prescribed deadline. Member States were required to implement the Directive by August 2022, but Ireland was 18 months late in meeting its obligations.
The delay was attributed partly to legislative disruption during the COVID-19 pandemic, but more significantly to the Government’s decision to transpose the Directive through a wide-ranging “miscellaneous” bill. This bill included additional measures such as enhanced breastfeeding breaks, domestic violence leave, and a right to request remote work. Prolonged political debate over the latter provision was identified as the primary cause of the delay that led to the fine.
The Directive, which builds on existing EU measures aimed at reducing the gender employment gap and promoting equality in the workplace, establishes EU-wide minimum standards in four areas:
The CJEU fine adds to a growing financial burden resulting from Ireland’s recurring delays in transposing EU law. Since 2020, late transposition has cost the State over €13 million in fines. While infringement proceedings against Ireland are relatively common, fines remain infrequent. As of July 2024, Ireland had 46 open infringement actions, the lowest number on record.
A Seanad Select Committee was previously established to oversee the transposition of EU Directives, with powers to hold Ministers and Departments accountable for delays. However, the Committee has not been reconstituted by the new government.