Opinion

Keith Doyle, senior associate at BHSM LLP, examines an accelerating trend in the commercial real estate sector towards taking wellness seriously. Awareness of health and wellness, in society at large and in our places of business, has reached an all-time high. Even before Covid-19, the world of busi

Ronan Dunne, partner at Philip Lee, considers what the exit of Ireland's last remaining overseas retail banks means for competition in Irish banking. The competitive landscape of the Irish retail banking market is set to change dramatically in 2022. The impending departures of both Ulster Bank and K

Benjamin Bestgen takes a philosophical look at corruption. In November 2021, Prime Minister Boris Johnson felt the need to tell the world’s media at the COP26 conference that the UK was not remotely a corrupt country. The PM took this step as both he personally and his Tory party are, not for

Lisa Bryson, employment partner at Eversheds Sutherland in Belfast, argues that the "people factor" will be key to corporate climate action. As the curtain fell on COP26 last month, many were left speculating what the conference meant for them. The Glasgow Climate Pact, while making advances in the

Jason O'Sullivan, solicitor and public affairs consultant at J.O.S Solicitors, calls on Irish insurers to make good on their promises to lower premiums. The lobbying and public affairs industry in Ireland plays an important role in helping to shape public policy and legislative agendas. It is an imp

Alison Cassidy, partner at DAC Beachcroft in Belfast, comments on Northern Ireland's low personal injury discount rate. It has been over five months since the Department of Justice made a shock announcement to change the personal injury discount rate (PIDR) from +2.5 per cent to -1.75 per cent, leav

Liam Herrick, executive director of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL), argues that the non-jury Special Criminal Court must be abolished. The Irish Council for Civil Liberties has opposed the use of the Special Criminal Court since our foundation. The weakening of fair trial rights and us

Philip Alston, the John Norton Pomeroy professor of law at NYU School of Law, argues that gender diversity on the International Court of Justice must be taken more seriously. In Is There a Special Practice?, Antonios Tzanakopoulos has written a very learned post seeking to dispel the notion that the

Johnny Ryan, senior fellow at the Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL), calls for urgent reform to Ireland's Data Protection Commission. Even as Covid-19 has forced us to spend more time online, we face a deepening privacy crisis. Headlines about predatory profiling of vulnerable people by gambl

Dr Sandra Duffy comments on last week’s English Court of Appeal ruling on transgender children’s access to puberty blockers. On Friday 17th September, the Court of Appeal for England and Wales handed down its decision in the appeal of Bell v Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust. This judgment

Christopher McCann, solicitor and head of the Traveller legal service at legal rights group FLAC, recounts a High Court case where civil legal aid was not available. On 29 July 2021, FLAC called on the Minister for Justice, in the context of an upcoming review of civil legal aid provision, to ensure

Last month the team at HOMS Assist secured a high value undisclosed settlement and an apology from the HSE for our client, a widow whose young husband died as a result of deficits of care at the University Hospital Kerry, which tragically resulted in his untimely death. However, it took a four-year

Comyn Kelleher Tobin partner Sinead Fitzgerald and intern Mary Maunsell examine a recent High Court judgment on spousal maintenance and "proper provision". A High Court decision in which the wife of a dairy farmer was awarded €800 per month for a four-year period in spousal maintenance was rece

Lisa Bryson, partner and head of employment law at Eversheds Sutherland in Belfast, warns employers to be aware of the potential issues around vaccines. The issue of mandatory vaccines in the workplace has provoked lots of discussion, debate and concern. Tech giants Google and Facebook have told th

Dr Brian Hunt, partner at Ronan Daly Jermyn, responds to the President's comments about the volume of legislation coming through the Oireachtas. Last week the Ceann Comhairle of the Dáil and Cathaoirleach of the Seanad each received a letter from President Michael D Higgins. While the letters