Coronavirus

New Garda powers to enforce lockdown restrictions should not be used as the consent-based approach "has been for the most part successful", civil liberties experts have said. Health Minister Simon Harris yesterday signed regulations giving gardaí powers to enforce restrictions on movement dur

Ronan Daly Jermyn partner Diarmaid Gavin and trainee Kate Murphy explore the European Commission's response to the coronavirus pandemic. On 19 March 2020, the European Commission adopted a temporary framework for state aid measures to support the economy of member states in the current Covid-19 outb

William Fry unpacks recent clarifications about certain provisions of the Government's temporary wage subsidy scheme. The Revenue Commissioners have issued some recent welcome clarifications about certain provisions of the Government's temporary wage subsidy scheme.

Belfast-based MKB Law has welcomed back associate director and employment head Suzanne Keenan from maternity leave. In a blog post, Ms Keenan said her return to work during the coronavirus pandemic "may not be what I pictured, but it is still great to be back at it".

Children are allowed to move between parents' homes during the coronavirus pandemic to comply with access orders, according to new guidance for lawyers. The Law Society of Ireland, The Bar of Ireland and the Family Lawyers' Association yesterday jointly launched updated guidelines for access during

Criminal barristers have been told they will receive legal aid payments for adjourned cases during the coronavirus lockdown and "refresher fees" when trials resume. The Department of Justice confirmed in response to representations from The Bar of Ireland that brief fees will be paid now in respect

Eoghan Ó hArgáin, associate and head of the EU, competition and regulated markets team at Eugene F. Collins, explores what measures may be taken under Irish law in response to reports of “price gouging”. Following the outbreak of COVID-19 there have been reports of hand san

Prominent Belfast solicitor Niall Murphy, who has spent almost two weeks in hospital with coronavirus, is showing signs of improvement, according to reports. Mr Murphy, 43, is a partner at KRW LAW LLP and is known for his work as a criminal defence lawyer and in representing victims of state violenc

People who are not normally resident in Ireland will not suffer negative tax repercussions if they are unable to leave due to the coronavirus pandemic, Revenue has said. "Where a departure from the State is prevented due to COVID-19, Revenue will consider this ‘force majeure’ for the pur

Spitting on a police officer during the coronavirus pandemic should be prosecuted as actual bodily harm or grievous bodily harm, a judge has said. Judge Mark Hamill, sitting in Belfast Magistrates' Court, said the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) should take a harsher attitude while police officers

Joanne Ryan, associate at William Fry, looks at whether remote swearing is permitted in Ireland in light of the coronavirus pandemic and what can be done to address the issue of swearing affidavits while adhering to social distancing.  Due to the Government's necessary social distancing restric

Lawyers have raised concerns that coronavirus-related disruption at the Companies Registration Office (CRO) could land company directors in hot water. The CRO will only offer "limited services" to the public due to restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic, government officials have said.

Lawyers and legal academics have joined hundreds of immigration and health experts in calling on the Government to take further action to protect asylum seekers during the pandemic. More than 850 professionals have signed an open letter appealing to ministers to relocate international protection app

A joint statement issued by Ireland and 13 other European countries has raised concern about "the risk of violations of the principles of rule of law, democracy and fundamental rights" in responses to the coronavirus pandemic. The short statement was agreed by the governments of Ireland, Belgium, De

Remote court hearings will be piloted in Ireland for the first time later this month in order to maintain the operation of the justice system during the coronavirus pandemic. In a joint statement, Chief Justice Frank Clarke and the presidents of the court jurisdictions said a "considerable amount of