Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 ('the Act') places an obligation on corporations supplying goods and services in the UK (and which have an annual turnover threshold of £36 million or more) to publish an annual slavery and human trafficking statement.
BelfastSince 1 April 2018, the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards have required commercial landlords to ensure that their commercial properties in England and Wales have a minimum Energy Performance Certificate rating of E. From 1 April 2023, it will be unlawful for a landlord to continue to let a commercial property with a sub-standard rating, unless a valid exemption applies.
BelfastIn order to further the objectives of the European Green Deal, the European Commission put forward proposals on 6 July 2021 for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on European green bonds. Provisional agreement has now been reached on this proposal and our update provides an overview of this proposal.
Capital Markets - DebtIn January 2023 the Chancery Lane Project (TCLP) published a suite of green lease clauses for use in commercial leases in Ireland. This article outlines the clauses, which are divided into three sets.
ESG & SustainabilityThis article considers some of the key changes relating to energy performance certificates, minimum energy performance standards, data exchange and renovation passports.
ESG & SustainabilityThis article provides an overview of the requirements of the Gender Balance on Boards Directive. It also provides some insight into the state of play in Ireland on the question of gender equality at board and senior executive level.
Corporate & M&AWhile employment related matters are typically considered to fall within the social aspect of ESG, there are some issues that straddle both the social and governance elements of ESG. In this article we focus on two topical employment issues from an ESG perspective – diversity and inclusion and whistleblowing.
EmploymentThis article provides an overview of the key elements of the recently published European Commission's proposal for a Green Claims Directive.
DisputesThe Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) has issued an industry letter highlighting the main findings of its inspection of costs and fees charged to UCITS as part of the European Securities and Markets Authority's (ESMA's) 2021 Common Supervisory Action (CSA). The CBI's findings should be considered in conjunction with ESMA's final report on the CSA.
Asset Management & Investment FundsImproving transparency on the environmental impact of products, and empowering consumers to make sustainable choices, is a key objective of the European Commission. A significant initiative which will assist in driving this objective is the proposed introduction of Digital Product Passports. Read more in our Publication.
DisputesUK Data Protection reform is firmly back on the UK Government’s agenda with the introduction of the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill on 8 March 2023. Read more here on the Bill here.
BelfastOn 9 March 2023, the Court of Justice of the European Union delivered judgment in NJ and OZ v An Bord Pleanála and Others C-9/22 following a reference made by the High Court concerning the interpretation of certain articles of Directive 2001/42/EC (the SEA Directive) and Directive 2011/92, as amended (the EIA Directive). Read more on the judgement here.
Environmental & Planning
