The recent confidential settlement of a Workplace Relations Commission complaint brought against a professional trade body for auctioneers by its ex-president is said to be under dispute resolution. Once the main figure of the Institute of Professional Auctioneers and Valuers, Gerry Coffey, a Co Galway auctioneer, stepped down from his position a year ago. He announced his resignation blaming the body for denying him access to important fiscal documents and purposely excluding him from major decision-making processes. His relationship with the institute’s CEO, Pat Davitt, was notably fraught, with Coffey maintaining that Davitt’s intent was to oppress and hinder him.
The professional body, IPAV, serves as a representative for about 1,500 auctioneers, advocating for high standards in estate and property valuation. The lawsuit was planned to be held over a three-day period starting Monday, however, WRC adjudicator Jim Dolan postponed the initial procedures to facilitate settlement discussions between the sides. He personally declared that the resolution served to eliminate the necessity for his involvement. The case is set to be officially closed in three weeks.
During a joint announcement on Monday, both sides conveyed: “IPAV and Mr Coffey have determined and resolved all conflicts and aim to leave their disagreement in the past.” The agreement was validated by both parties’ legal representations, Solicitor John Hennessy for Mr Coffey and Jason Murray BL for the IPAV.
The auction business of Mr Coffey is situated in Williamstown in Co Galway. In 2019, he notably lost in the local elections in Co Roscommon for Fine Gael and is not standing in the forthcoming local election in June. The IPAV, last year, expressed regret over receiving Mr Coffey’s resignation following a unanimous decision by the national council (board) to uphold a complaint against him lodged by the CEO. Coffey, reportedly, asserts that the controversy surrounds accusations that he forcefully hit a table during a board assembly. He escalated the issue by filing a complaint against IPAV last November, seeking WRC adjudication under the Protected Disclosures Act of 2014.
This law grants a worker the right to pursue reparation for an apparent violation of the Act by their employer. According to the Act, it is prohibited for an employer; to punish or threaten to punish a staff member for making a safeguarded disclosure, or to allow or cause someone else to do so.
Mr Coffey and Mr Davitt were both in attendance at the WRC on Monday when negotiations for a settlement commenced.
A preliminary review that took place in February was informed that testimonies might be needed from around 14 to 15 witnesses, with six supporting Mr Coffey and approximately eight representing Ipav.