There is an agreed contract between the Institutes of Technology and the Teachers Union of Ireland which governs the terms and conditions applying to the different grades of lecturing staff in all of the IOTs.
In line with the Universities Act, 1997, universities have autonomy in relation to human resource policies including lecturing contracts, subject to compliance with Government policy in respect of employment numbers and pay policy, national industrial relations agreements and employment law. I understand that as part of commitments given under the Public Service (Croke Park) Agreement 2010 – 2014, the universities have introduced new contracts for academic staff following agreement with the trade unions.