Employment Rights Ireland
Jury Service Ireland 2026 — Rights, Pay and Employer Obligations
Jury service is legally compulsory in Ireland. Under section 29 of the Juries Act 1976, your employer is required to pay your normal wages for the full duration of jury service. Your employer cannot stop you attending, dismiss you, or deduct your wages for serving on a jury.
Jury Service — At a Glance
| Legislation | Juries Act 1976 (as amended) |
|---|---|
| Eligibility | Irish citizen, aged 18–70, on the electoral register |
| Employer pay obligation | Legally required — employer must pay normal wages during jury service (Juries Act 1976, s.29); contractual terms limiting this obligation are void |
| Courts Service allowance (days 1–10) | Approximately €64 per day — applies primarily to self-employed jurors and those without employment income |
| Courts Service allowance (day 11+) | Approximately €119 per day — applies primarily to self-employed jurors and those without employment income |
| Travel & subsistence | Reimbursed at Courts Service rates |
| Dismissal protection | Automatic — no minimum service requirement |
| Continuity of employment | Maintained throughout jury service |
| Exemptions granted by | The court on the day — not by your employer |
| Typical duration | A few days to two weeks; complex trials can last months |
What is Jury Service in Ireland?
Under the Juries Act 1976, every eligible person in Ireland can be called to serve on a jury in the Circuit Court or High Court. The jury is a panel of twelve people who decide whether a defendant is guilty or not guilty in a criminal trial, or who determine liability and damages in certain civil cases. Jury service is a civic duty and, once summoned, attendance is legally compulsory.
Most jury trials last between a few days and two weeks. However, complex fraud cases or murder trials can run for several months. If you are selected for a particularly long trial and it would cause you exceptional hardship, you can apply to the presiding judge for an exemption from that specific trial.
Who is Eligible for Jury Service?
To serve on a jury in Ireland you must meet all three of the following criteria:
- You are an Irish citizen (not merely a resident — citizenship is required)
- You are aged between 18 and 70
- Your name is on the electoral register
Non-Irish citizens, even if they are long-term residents or have an Irish Residence Permit, are generally not eligible and will typically be excused if they attend and clarify their citizenship status to the court.
Who is Exempt From Jury Service?
The Juries Act sets out categories of persons who are ineligible or excusable from jury service. These include:
- Members of the judiciary and court staff
- Practising solicitors and barristers
- Members of An Garda Síochána
- Prison officers and persons employed in the probation service
- Members of the Defence Forces
- Medical and dental professionals where patient care would be disrupted
- Persons over 70 years of age
- Persons who have served on a jury within the previous three years (may be excused at court discretion)
- Persons with a genuine significant hardship that makes attendance impossible or unreasonable
Your Employer's Obligations During Jury Service
Section 29 of the Juries Act 1976 imposes clear obligations on employers when an employee is summoned for jury service:
- They must allow the employee to attend — obstruction is a criminal offence under the Juries Act 1976
- They must continue to pay the employee's normal wages throughout the period of jury service — the absence is treated as employment
- They must not dismiss, penalise or disadvantage an employee for attending jury service — this protection applies from day one of employment
An employer may reasonably request a copy of the jury summons and, after service, written confirmation of the days attended. Employees should provide this without delay.
What If My Employer Does Not Pay During Jury Service?
If your employer deducts wages or refuses to pay during a period of jury service, this is unlawful under section 29 of the Juries Act 1976 and constitutes an unlawful deduction from wages under the Payment of Wages Act 1991. Your options are:
- Write to your employer citing section 29 of the Juries Act 1976 and requesting immediate payment of the amount wrongly deducted
- Bring a payment of wages complaint to the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) within 6 months of the deduction
- Bring a penalisation complaint to the WRC if you have suffered any other adverse treatment for attending jury service
The WRC can order the employer to repay the unlawfully deducted wages plus compensation for any penalisation suffered.
Courts Service Daily Allowance — Who It Applies To
The Courts Service operates a daily allowance scheme for persons attending jury service who do not have an employer paying their wages. This applies primarily to:
- Self-employed persons who lose income as a result of attending jury service
- Retired, unemployed or non-employed persons summoned for jury service
The current allowance rates (as of 2025/2026) are:
- Days 1 to 10: approximately €64 per day
- Day 11 onwards: approximately €119 per day
- Travel expenses: reimbursed at actual cost within Courts Service rates
- Subsistence: available if the court sits at a location away from your home area
The Courts Service does not pay wages or normal travel expenses for employed persons — that obligation rests with the employer under section 29 of the Juries Act 1976. Claim forms for the allowance are available at the courthouse.
Worked Example — James the Office Administrator
James is employed full-time at a logistics company, earning €680 per week gross. He receives a jury summons for a Circuit Court trial. He notifies his employer immediately, provides a copy of the summons, and confirms the dates. He is selected for a trial on day two and serves for a total of eight days before the verdict is returned.
Under section 29 of the Juries Act 1976, James's employer is legally required to pay his normal wages throughout the period of jury service. James receives his full salary, his employment continuity is unaffected, and his annual leave entitlements are not reduced. When he returns to work, nothing changes in his terms of employment.
If James's employer had attempted to deduct wages during the period of service, James could write to them citing section 29 of the Juries Act and, if necessary, bring a payment of wages complaint to the WRC.
Steps to Follow When You Receive a Jury Summons
- Notify your employer immediately on receiving the summons — do not wait until close to the date
- Provide a copy of the summons to your employer or HR department and keep the original yourself
- Confirm your pay entitlement — your employer is legally required to pay your normal wages under Juries Act 1976, s.29; if there is any uncertainty, raise this with HR in writing before service begins
- Attend court on the specified date — failure to attend without a valid excuse is a contempt of court
- Raise any hardship or exemption with the court registrar on the day — not with your employer
- Return to work promptly on any day you are released early and the working day has not yet ended
- If self-employed, submit a Courts Service allowance claim — obtain the form at the courthouse on each day of attendance
Time Limits and Key Deadlines
If you suffer penalisation, dismissal, or an unlawful wage deduction related to jury service, you should bring a complaint to the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) as soon as possible. The standard time limit for WRC complaints is six months from the date of the alleged contravention, with a possible extension to twelve months where reasonable cause is shown.
Do not delay — the six-month deadline runs from the date of the specific act (deduction, dismissal, or penalisation), not from the date you first became aware of your rights.
Evidence to Keep
- Copy of the original jury summons
- Copy of your written notification to your employer
- Record of days attended at court (dates and hours)
- Payslips covering the period of jury service (to verify whether wages were deducted)
- Any correspondence from your employer about pay or leave during the service
- Courts Service attendance confirmation (if issued)
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Not notifying your employer early enough — inform them as soon as the summons arrives, not the week before
- Assuming the Courts Service allowance replaces your wages — employed persons are entitled to full wages from their employer under Juries Act 1976, s.29; the Courts Service allowance is for self-employed and non-employed jurors
- Applying to your employer for an exemption — only the court can grant exemptions; your employer has no power to excuse you from a legal summons
- Not returning to work when released early — if you are released before your working day ends, you must return to work
- Accepting an unlawful wage deduction without complaint — if your employer deducts wages during jury service, bring a payment of wages complaint to the WRC; the deduction is unlawful
- Accepting unlawful penalisation without complaint — dismissal or other adverse treatment related to jury service is unlawful; the WRC is the correct avenue to challenge it
Information Accuracy — This guide has been independently researched and reviewed using official Irish government sources available on the publication date. Government schemes, payment rates, eligibility rules and legislation may change over time. Before making financial, legal or welfare decisions, always confirm the latest information directly with the relevant Irish authority.
Frequently Asked Questions — Jury Service Ireland
Does my employer have to pay me during jury service in Ireland?
Yes. Under section 29 of the Juries Act 1976, your employer is legally required to continue paying your normal wages during jury service. The period of absence is treated as employment. Any contractual term purporting to exclude or limit the employer's wage obligation during jury service is void and unenforceable. If your employer wrongly deducts wages, you can bring a payment of wages complaint to the Workplace Relations Commission within 6 months of the deduction.
What is the Courts Service daily allowance for jury service?
The Courts Service pays a daily allowance primarily to self-employed persons and others without employment income during jury service. The current rates are approximately €64 per day for days 1 to 10 and approximately €119 per day from day 11 onwards. Travel expenses at actual cost within Courts Service rates, and a subsistence allowance for sittings away from your home area, are also available. The Courts Service does not pay wages or replace the employer's pay obligation — employed persons are entitled to their normal wages from their employer.
Can my employer refuse to let me do jury service?
No. Attendance at jury service is legally compulsory under the Juries Act 1976. An employer who prevents or obstructs an employee from attending jury service commits a criminal offence. You must attend when summoned.
Can I be dismissed for going on jury service?
No. Dismissal for attending jury service is automatically unlawful. This protection applies from day one of employment — there is no minimum service requirement for this specific protection. If you are dismissed or penalised, you can bring a claim to the Workplace Relations Commission.
Who is eligible for jury service in Ireland?
To be eligible you must be an Irish citizen, aged between 18 and 70, and registered on the electoral register. Non-Irish citizens who are not registered as Irish citizens are generally not eligible for jury service.
Who is exempt from jury service?
Certain categories are exempt, including the judiciary, practising solicitors and barristers, members of An Garda Síochána, prison officers, members of the Defence Forces, medical professionals on patient care grounds, and persons over 70. Genuine significant hardship can also ground an exemption. Exemptions are granted by the court on the day of attendance, not by your employer.
Does jury service count as continuous employment?
Yes. Time spent on jury service counts as continuous employment for the purposes of redundancy entitlements, annual leave accrual, and unfair dismissal protections. Your position in employment is protected throughout your attendance.
What should I do if I am released early from jury service?
If you are released early — for example, because you were not selected or the case concluded sooner than expected — you must return to work promptly for the remainder of the working day. Failure to return when released could be treated as unauthorised absence.
What if I am selected for a very long trial?
If you are selected for a trial that will cause exceptional personal or financial hardship that was not foreseeable when you were summoned, you can apply to the presiding judge for an exemption from that specific trial. The judge will consider each application on its merits.
What if my employer deducts wages during jury service?
This is unlawful. Section 29 of the Juries Act 1976 requires employers to pay normal wages during jury service. A deduction constitutes an unlawful deduction under the Payment of Wages Act 1991. Write to your employer citing their obligation under the Juries Act and request immediate repayment. If they refuse, bring a complaint to the Workplace Relations Commission within 6 months of the deduction.
This guide covers jury service rules in Ireland as of 2026. The employer pay obligation during jury service is established under section 29 of the Juries Act 1976. Courts Service daily allowance rates are set by the Courts Service and may be adjusted. The information on this page is for general guidance only and does not constitute legal advice. If your employer dismisses, penalises or deducts wages in connection with jury service, contact the Workplace Relations Commission or a solicitor as soon as possible.
Information Accuracy — This guide has been independently researched and reviewed using official Irish government sources available on the publication date. Government schemes, payment rates, eligibility rules and legislation may change over time. Before making financial, legal or welfare decisions, always confirm the latest information directly with the relevant Irish authority.