Where a transaction must be notified to the European Commission under the EU Merger Regulation, DG COMP has encouraged the merging parties to delay the submission of the merger notification until further notice. It is also temporarily accepting e-filings and permitting the delivery of hard copy originals to be arranged at a later time.
COVID-19
In Ireland, under the combined EU and Irish competition law rules, it is an offence to enter into an anti-competitive agreement or to abuse a dominant position.
COVID-19
The European Central Bank (ECB) has announced a €750bn temporary asset purchase programme of private and public sector securities to assist the eurozone in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is in addition to the €120bn increase the ECB announced to its €20bn per month programme of asset purchases last week.
COVID-19Governments around the world are giving financial support to many businesses to cope with the COVID-19 crisis. Businesses receiving this support appreciate the assistance during this troubling but temporary crisis.
EU, Competition & Procurement
Following engagement with Ireland's five retail banks, the Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe TD has announced a range of measures designed to provide support for bank customers affected by the fallout from COVID-19.
COVID-19On St Patrick's Day night, the Irish Government published emergency legislation in response to the evolving Covid-19 crisis.
Employment
For many businesses contending with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, a key consideration will be seeking to suspend or be excused from contractual obligations.
Commercial Contracts
Our Asset Management and Investment Funds team look at practical and other issues for regulated investment funds and regulated financial service providers (RFSPs) established in Ireland during this period of uncertainty brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Asset Management & Investment FundsOn 17 March 2020, the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA) published a statement on actions to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on the EU insurance sector. EIOPA has been monitoring the evolving COVID-19 position in close cooperation with other European supervisory authorities and the European Systemic Risk Board.
Insurance & Reinsurance
The Cabinet Office has published a Procurement Policy Note for contracting authorities responding to the COVID-19 outbreak. This note highlights how contracting authorities can utilise existing provisions of the Public Contract Regulations 2015 (PCR 2015) in ensuring they have the necessary goods and services at this time.
COVID-19 Belfast
The Central Bank announced on 18 March 2020 that it is effectively releasing the counter cyclical capital buffer that banks which are prudentially regulated by the Central Bank are required to hold.
COVID-19
Recent news reports have detailed the difficulties many companies are experiencing in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. Whilst the NI Finance Minister and the Chancellor have promised a raft of measures to assist companies – the logistics of which are still unclear.
COVID-19 Belfast
