Cash flow is the life blood of the construction industry, goes the mantra. Construction projects often have long supply chains. When cash stops flowing down the chain, businesses can fail. There is all too much recent evidence of this. Someone in the chain (say, a main contractor) could seek to provide in a contract that it does not have to pay the party below (subcontractor) until it has...
BrexitThe current absence of political resolution and the fast-approaching date for Brexit means that there is a heightened chance of a no-deal Brexit. If so, World Trade Organisation rules will govern trade with the UK so what does that mean for businesses in Ireland? Currently, the UK is part of the Single Market and the EU Customs Union. If there is a no-deal Brexit, EU law will cease to apply...
BrexitCompanies tendering for public contracts in the UK and Ireland after 29 March 2019 (or such later date if extended) will need to be aware of the changes that Brexit will bring for public procurement. While the public procurement landscape in the UK will not change dramatically in the short term, there will be some changes in practice depending on whether there is a deal or no deal. No Deal...
BrexitAs the UK is expected to leave the EU on 29 March, a number of key areas of concern have emerged in respect of health and safety protections. Stakeholders in the industry have identified serious consequences for the UK health and safety legal framework if there is a no-deal Brexit. One such area relates to the regulations governing Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of...
BrexitThe backstop would be a legally binding agreement between the EU and the UK that neither a hard border nor checks will be reintroduced between Northern Ireland and Ireland after the UK leaves the EU (i.e., post-Brexit). Vincent Power explains the term "backstop" which is a central feature of the Brexit negotiations and processes. What is the Backstop? Concept The backstop would be a legally...
BrexitAnna-Marie Curran, EU, Competition & Procurement Partner and Jessica Egan, EU, Competition & Procurement Solicitor provide a practical insight into public procurement in Ireland. First published in 'The International Comparative Legal Guide to: Public Procurement 2019' (11th Edition) by Global Legal Group.
EU, Competition & ProcurementToday marks 50 days before the UK is scheduled to leave the European Union (EU). The question now is not so much will the UK leave the EU but on what terms?
BrexitOver the course of 2018 Ireland took a number of steps towards introducing mandatory gender pay gap (GPG) reporting into Irish law. there are currently two separate bills on GPG reporting working their way through legislative process: the Government's Gender Pay Gap (Information) Bill and the separate Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (Gender Pay Gap) Information Bill 2017.
BrexitOn 1 February 2019 ESMA confirmed the agreement of no-deal Brexit MoUs with the FCA. One MoU is between the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) of the United Kingdom (UK) covering the exchange of information in relation to credit rating agencies and trade repositories.
Asset Management & Investment FundsEuropean Commission regularly "dawn raids" businesses across the European Union (EU) to try to uncover evidence of anti-competitive deals, abuse of dominance and unlawful State aid. These dawn raids are surprise unannounced visits by a team of European Commission inspectors.
BrexitWith 59 days to go until B-Day, it is still not clear what will happen. Among the several plates which are spinning are: The UK's House of Commons is still voting on what the UK should do next. There is expected to be another "meaningful vote" over the next few weeks on whether to accept the draft withdrawal agreement but in the interim, parliament is considering a series of procedural votes...
BrexitThe impact of Brexit will be keenly felt in Ireland regarding the provision of services generally (including financial services).
Brexit