News

The Irish government has published a new information handbook on rights and remedies available to employees facing collective redundancy. The publication of the handbook fulfils one of the key commitments in the government's plan of action on collective redundancies following insolvency.

A new law firm, Galvin Donegan LLP, has been formed from the merger of Cork firms Barry C. Galvin & Son Solicitors, Donegan Solicitors and O’Connor, Murphy, Clune Solicitors. The new firm specialises in advisory, litigation and commercial law with a specific focus on the banking and financ

The Data Protection Commission (DPC) has issued more than 80 recommendations to Irish political parties after an audit of their data protection practices. In a new 54-page report, the DPC summarised the findings of data protection audits conducted in 26 registered political parties, including all of

Prison visits in Northern Ireland will be suspended from Monday 27 December in response to concern about the Omicron variant. The Northern Ireland Prison Service has announced a number of "cautionary steps" to protect prisons from the threat of Covid-19 over the Christmas period.

The Probation Service has announced the appointment of Fíona Ní Chinnéide as its deputy director from February 2022. Ms Ní Chinnéide, currently the executive director of the Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT), will succeed Ita Burke, who retired in July.

Ireland could allow multinational companies to defer the disclosure of certain tax information which must be made public under a new EU directive for up to five years under proposals put out to consultation. The government has launched a public consultation on Ireland's implementation of EU Directiv

An Oireachtas committee has launched a call for submissions on proposed legislation to abolish the wards of court system for adults. The joint committee on children, equality, disability, integration and youth is seeking views on the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2021, which w

UN talks on lethal autonomous weapons systems (LAWS) – or "killer robots" – have failed to reach agreement on banning them in warfare. The sixth review conference of the UN Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW), taking place over five days in Geneva, could not reach an ag

A soldier who accepted a marriage proposal while on duty has been arrested. The Nigerian woman, who has not been named, broke the military's code of conduct by "indulging in romance while in uniform", the BBC reports.

The High Court has quashed a decision of the International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT) after it failed to give reasons for refusing to give the case an oral hearing under section 43(b) of the International Protection Act 2015. The IPAT decided that the applicant was not entitled to refugee st

The 4,000 people accused and executed for witchcraft in Scotland are to receive a posthumous pardon after the Scottish government lent its support to the move. Claire Mitchell QC leads Witches of Scotland, which has campaigned for a pardon, a government apology and an official monument for the victi

The Law Society of Northern Ireland is preparing to celebrate its centenary next year on an optimistic note, new president Brigid Napier has said. Writing in the latest edition of The Writ, published last week, Ms Napier said she is "mindful of the continuing pressures that face the Society" but tha

Staff at JMK Solicitors and CRASH Services have donated over £55,000 this December to their 2021 charity partner, Cancer Fund for Children.

Law firm closures due to failures to obtain insurance have risen sixfold in five years, according to a new report. Researchers said 65 law firms in England and Wales shut shop in the year to September 2020 – as compared with 11 in 2016-17.

Legislation establishing a new planning regime for the maritime area has passed through all stages of the Oireachtas. The government has said the Maritime Area Planning Bill 2021 represents the biggest reform of marine governance since the foundation of the State, with a legal and administrative fra