Some 62% said they disagreed with the Court, with 43% of respondents saying they strongly disagreed, while another 19% slightly disagreed.

Just 20% agreed with the Court's ruling, with 13% slightly agreeing and only 6% strongly agreed.

Women were far more likely to disagree with the Court, with a clear majority (51%) expressing strong disagreement.

As reported in Tribune Business on 8 October, there was some confusion about the ruling's impact among some commentators in its immediate aftermath.

Maternity leave, rather than taking a career break of indeterminate length to raise children, does not constitute a break of service under the ruling, according A&L Goodbody solicitor Ciara McLoughlin.

"By way of example, where a male and female employee both commence work in year one and by year three the female worker has had three children and taken 18 months maternity leave (six months for each child), they will both have three year's service, " she explained.