TAOISEACH Leo Varadkar has told the Dáil that a woman reportedly sacked following social media posts criticising Israel's role in the current conflict should seek legal advice.
He was responding to comments from People Before Profit-Solidarity TD Richard Boyd-Barrett, who said he had been contacted by former Wix employee Courtney Carey.
The Israeli software firm, which offers website-building services, employees around 500 people at its Dublin office.
Mr Varadkar said that while he didn't know the full details of the case, 'it is not okay to dismiss somebody because of their political views'.
In a post on LinkedIn, Wix President Nir Zohar said the company had 'decided to part ways with this employee' who had stated 'that Israel is a terrorist state'.
'Seek advice'
In the Dáil on Tuesday, Mr Boyd-Barrett said Ms Carey had told him she was sacked for posts 'in which she essentially laid the responsibility for the current violence in Gaza on the shoulders of the Israeli Government for its apartheid policies'.
He then asked the Taoiseach to condemn what had happened and to investigate the case.
Fellow People Before Profit-Solidarity TD Mick Barry also urged the Taoiseach to address the reports.
"I am calling on the Irish Congress of Trade Unions to speak out on this case," added Mr Barry.
"It could have a chilling effect on thousands of workers in this country who wish to speak out against a brutal war.
"It also creates a terrible precedent whereby workers can be fired for expressing a political point of view."
In response, the Taoiseach said he was not aware of the case or its specific details and was wary about casting judgement until he had heard from all sides.
However, he added: "Under Irish employment law, it is not okay to dismiss somebody because of their political views.
"I believe that to be wrong and would encourage the woman concerned to seek advice, whether from the WRC (Workplace Relations Commission), a trade union or a solicitor, because it may well constitute wrongful dismissal and there are remedies that would then apply.
"Of course, all the facts would need to be known before we know what the outcome will be."
'Open and liberal company'
Addressing the issue on a LinkedIn post, Mr Zohar said he had been 'bombarded with messages from Israeli employees, friends and colleagues from all over the world sending screenshots of one of Wix's employees who states that Israel is a terrorist state'.
"The employee posted something inflammatory of a similar kind last week," he added.
"She was asked by her manager to be sensitive to her peers after being told how much pain this is causing her foreign colleagues and removed that post, yet only a few days later chose to post the above mentioned post that essentially points a blaming finger at the victims of horrific terrorism.
"Wix is a global company, it is an open and a liberal company.
"We would never try to limit anyone's political views, we do however also hold a strong set of internal values about our team spirit, partnership and friendship.
"These accusations in such troubling times not only harm our Israeli team's spirit, they also threaten the great connection between our Dublin offices with our 500 team members and their Israeli colleagues.
"We therefore decided to part ways with this employee."
According to the Irish Independent, Ms Carey says she stands by her comments, which were 'anti-war and anti-terrorism'.
Taking to LinkedIn herself, Ms Carey welcomed the support she had received over recent days.
In a recent post in which she expressed solidarity with the Palestinian people, she stressed that her support for Palestinians did not equate to support for Hamas.
"This is absolutely not the case. I condemn all forms of terrorism regardless of the perpetrator or victim," she wrote.
See More: Dublin, Middle East Conflict, Wix
