General regulations in regard to sick leave are set out in a number of Department of Finance circulars; Circulars 25/78 and 7/78 are particularly relevant. Certain provisions, in particular those relating to retirement on ill health grounds, also exist within section 9 of the Civil Service Regulation Act, 1956. Other issues relating to sick leave may arise consequent on various social welfare legislation and regulations.
The general position is that staff who are absent from work through sickness are required, if their illness persists for more than two working days, to produce a medical certificate. Staff returning from sick leave are expected to report for duty on the third day or at the expiry date of their medical certificate(s). Staff are expected to resume duty promptly on their return to full health – they may not, for example, take annual leave immediately following a period of sick leave.