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Employment law solicitor Richard Grogan of Richard Grogan & Associates argues that Irish employers should not take advantage of the new temporary wage subsidy scheme introduced in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Bill 2020 was in

New regulations allowing for access to abortion in Northern Ireland on request in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy have been laid in Parliament. Abortion will also be available up to 24 weeks where continuing the pregnancy would risk injury to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman or gi

Over £2 million has been paid through the Northern Ireland courts under confiscation orders since last April, according to new figures. The total figure of £2.2 million, paid in the 2019/20 financial year up to 18 March 2020, is the highest in at least five years.

Directors across the UK are asking the government for a temporary indemnity which allows them to keep technically insolvent firms in operation during the coronavirus pandemic without fear of legal action. Under current legislation, company boards can be sued for failing to wind up a company if it is

William Fry associate Sarah Plunkett explores the opportunities of using technology to maintain business continuity in the Irish courts during the coronavirus pandemic. The effects of the current outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19) have already caused an extensive impact on global economic and social

Legal practice management software provider LEAP has announced that it is now offering fully remote implementation to law firms across the UK and Ireland. The move will help firms expedite their transition from a server-based set-up to the cloud and enable staff to get up and running working from ho

Northern Ireland prisons have moved to a "reduced regime", with all prisoners required to remain in their accommodation block, in order to halt the spread of coronavirus. One prisoner and 163 prison staff in Northern Ireland are self-isolating but there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 so far, the

Lawyers in England have been afforded a wry laugh during the current crisis at the expense of the Solicitors' Regulation Authority. In a statement on the coronavirus, the regulator stresses that it expects law firms to have "appropriate contingency plans in place for disruption."

The Supreme Court has ruled that the stockbrokers J & E Davy must provide Waterford Credit Union with reports of an Irish Stock Exchange investigation. Chief Justice Frank Clarke overturned the Court of Appeal judgment which held that J & E Davy would not have to provide these reports.

As we enter the darkest days we have faced since World War Two, the thoughts of the team at Irish Legal News are with our readers and their families – but also with the many law firms which have only recently recovered from the crash of 2008 and its consequences. They now face an even greater

A leading childcare lawyer has paid tribute to legal professionals and courts staff for being "responsible and responsive" in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. Gareth Noble, partner at KOD Lyons, told Irish Legal News that new court policies and practice directions introduced in recent days "hav

All court business in Northern Ireland will be consolidated in five courthouses with effect from tomorrow, the Lord Chief Justice, Sir Declan Morgan, has announced. The move follows previous measures announced to slow the spread of coronavirus during the global COVID-19 pandemic and will see only ur

The age of criminal responsibility in Ireland is too low and should be raised, an influential European committee has warned. The general age of criminal responsibility in Ireland is 12 years, but there is also provision for 10- and 11-year-old children charged with serious offences including murder,

The Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) has said it will closely monitor the Government's use of new emergency powers introduced to tackle the coronavirus pandemic. In a statement yesterday, the rights group said new restrictions on non-essential services and outside gatherings were "necessary

House prices in Ireland could fall by as much as 20 per cent due to the coronavirus pandemic, a major stockbroker has suggested. According to new research from Davy, investors are bracing themselves for a "large downturn" in the Irish housing market.