Opinion

Marian Fogarty takes a comprehensive look at the PPO regime. A Periodic Payment Order (PPO) is meant to provide financial security to a catastrophically injured plaintiff and is (in theory at least) designed to meet the cost of care and therapy needs over the course of their lifetime. In short, a PP

Seán Hurley BL examines a recent EU court ruling involving TikTok owner Bytedance. Bytedance Ltd, the multinational company behind the social media app TikTok, recently sought and was denied interim relief to suspend the European Commission’s decision designating it as a gatekeeper unde

Benjamin Bestgen reflects on arguments for and against the legalisation of assisted dying. In recent weeks, the Isle of Man and Jersey have moved closer to enacting assisted dying laws. Scotland also proposed a bill for debate. The Netherlands, a country with almost three decades of practical a

Law student Alannah Murray criticises the State's record on vindicating disabled children's right to education. The only positive obligation on the State is to provide free primary education, per the decision in TD v. Minister for Education, as outlined in Article 42.4 of the Constitution. It was re

Eversheds Sutherland partner Lisa Boyd argues that the return of controversial PPP/PFI deals could bring benefits to Northern Ireland. Following the return to Stormont, the infrastructure minister for Northern Ireland no doubt had a bulging in-tray with huge demands on a tight budget.

Dr Filippos Proedrou and Dr Maria Pournara highlight the shortcomings of the EU's new ecocide law. The EU recently passed a law that criminalises actions “comparable to ecocide”. It’s a revolutionary legal development — the first law of its kind to be adopted by a political e

Maria O'Loan of Tughans writes on the implications for Northern Ireland businesses of new UK and EU carbon measures. The UK government has launched its consultation on the introduction of a UK Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) which closes on 13 June 2024.

Ogier senior associate Matthew van der Want and partner Dominic Conlon examine a bid to introduce third-party rights into the law of contracts in Ireland. Introduced as a private members' bill, the introduction of the Law Reform (Contracts) Bill 2024 to Ireland's Oirechtas in March 2024 is a step to

Anthony Fay considers the evolution and current trends in employment contracts. A 1980s brick phone wouldn't cut the mustard now in the high-octane environment of the corporate world. Contracts of employment are no different and need to keep pace with legislative changes, otherwise there could be se

Reform in personal injuries law has been a focus of government and the insurance sector in recent years. Killian Flood examines how one Supreme Court judge recently signalled a willingness to consider reforming the standard of care in certain cases. Last week, the Supreme Court delivered the much-an

Marguerite Kehoe BL reviews recent case law highlighting the systemic challenges face by the CFA in securing an adequate number of special care beds for minors requiring assistance. The inability of the Child and Family Agency (CFA) to provide sufficient special care beds has been the subject of sev

Eversheds Sutherland lawyer Laura McManus examines women's rights in the workplace as Northern Ireland falls behind neighbouring jurisdictions. As we celebrate International Women’s Day in Northern Ireland, working women, and working families, continue to enjoy less rights in the workplace tha

Dr Deirdre McGowan offers a family law perspective on the coming family and care referendums. We have become accustomed to referendums that result in practical positive change. The equal-marriage referendum allowed previously excluded couples to get married. Similarly, repealing the eighth amendment

Eversheds Sutherland partner Graham Kenny recalls a dark part of Irish legal history brought to light in a recent Supreme Court case. Last month, a seven-judge Supreme Court unanimously held that the current law that denied John O’Meara a widow’s contributory pension was unconstitutional

Carson McDowell associate Genevieve Brindley highlights a UK judgment on psychiatric illness negligently caused to 'secondary victims' and considers the possible implications in Ireland. In a recent decision relating to three cases — Paul v Wolverhamptom NHS Trust, Polmear and another v R