Coronavirus

A new support scheme for businesses with reduced turnover as a result of Covid-19 restrictions has opened for registration. Under the business resumption support scheme (BRSS), qualifying business will be able to apply to Revenue for a cash payment, representing an advance credit for trading expense

Private renters in Northern Ireland will be protected from eviction until May 2022 following an extension of Covid-19 laws. The Private Tenancies (Coronavirus Modifications) Act requires landlords to give tenants a 12-week notice to quit period before seeking a court order to begin proceedings to ev

A defence lawyer in Canada has praised a judge's decision to exclude unvaccinated jurors – because he "wants intelligent people on the jury". Justice Kevin Phillips, who is overseeing a murder trial in Ottawa, said in a pre-trial ruling that he would dismiss any potential jurors who said they

Les Allamby, the outgoing chief commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (NIHRC), reflects on the human rights landscape in Northern Ireland ahead of the end of his term early next week. Human rights remains a contested space, both publicly and politically. Nonetheless, as I refl

A judge-led public inquiry into the Scottish government's handling of the Covid-19 pandemic will be established by the end of the year, ministers announced today. A consultation has been launched on the draft aims and principles of the inquiry, and the government said discussions are "underway with

An online appointments system is set to be piloted in the Courts Service from the beginning of next week. The pilot will become available on Monday for clients intending to visit the central office of the High Court, the Dublin family law office in Dolphin House and the civil and family court office

The Department of Health has sought legal advice on the issue of mixing and matching Covid-19 vaccines from different manufacturers. Attorney general Paul Gallagher SC has been asked to prepare advice for health minister Stephen Donnelly on any possible legal issues in departing from how vaccines we

Irish tax revenues fell by less than four per cent last year amid the Covid-19 pandemic, compared with a fall of nearly one-third during the global financial crisis, according to new government analysis. Finance minister Paschal Donohoe yesterday published the annual taxation report for 2021, which

A judge in British Columbia has refused to ask members of a jury about their vaccination status. “I do not think the participation of unvaccinated jurors risks public confidence in the administration of justice,” Justice Geoffrey Gomery said in a ruling.

A solicitor who refused the Covid vaccine has died after becoming infected with the virus. Leslie Lawrenson, 58, said on Facebook people ought to “trust your immune system” and that he would rather develop “antibodies in my blood” than have the vaccine.

Legal experts have urged the government to clarify its relationship with NPHET and ensure democratic oversight of public health measures introduced to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic in Ireland. A comprehensive 142-page report from the Covid-19 Law and Human Rights Observatory at Trinity College Dublin

The first prison inspection reports published since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic have warned of a "sense of complacency" in the prison service, with increased restrictions at risk of becoming "the new norm". The Office of the Inspector of Prisons yesterday published four thematic inspection re

The president of the Association of Judges of Ireland (AJI) has backed Ms Justice Mary Irvine's call for the appointment of 17 more High Court judges to deal with the Covid-19 backlog. Mr Justice David Barniville told The Sunday Times that "there aren’t really enough hours in the day for a lot

Matthew Howse, partner at Eversheds Sutherland in Belfast, considers whether resort to litigation will become more common again as we move into the post-Covid world. Back in March 2020, the pandemic brought a halt to all but the most urgent legal proceedings in the Northern Irish courts. Courts had

Legislation to allow for the phased reopening of indoor hospitality will be brought to the Oireachtas in the coming days, ministers have announced. Restrictions on indoor restaurant or bar services will be eased for those who are fully vaccinated or have recovered from Covid-19 in the past six month