This concerns an employee’s entitlement to legal representation, such as a solicitor, during an internal company matter. This question most prominently arises in respect of disciplinary and dismissal proceedings. Generally, an employee does not have an entitlement to legal representation and the Irish Courts by-and-large feel it wholly undesirable to oblige employers to recognise a right to legal representation. There are limited exceptions where an employer should allow a legal representative to accompany an employee, such as where the disciplinary matter at hand involves a question of law or an intention to involve the Gardaí due to a potential criminal offence (e.g. where the employee is accused of theft)
