In response to the effect of COVID-19 on Irish businesses the Government, and in particular the Department of Employment Affairs & Social Protection (DEASP), introduced a range of financial measures to support businesses and their workers who are effected by the COVID-19 crisis.
COVID-19The rapid spread of COVID-19 has had extraordinarily far reaching ramifications for all sectors of industry, not least the legal system.
COVID-19Consumer protection law in Ireland is mainly enforced by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC). On 2 April 2020, the CCPC issued an alert entitled "COVID-19 Business Reminder – Payment Methods".
COVID-19A week seems like a long time for a large part of the population staying at home and for those key workers continuing to provide lifesaving services during the COVID-19 crisis. Keeping track of the rapidly changing situation and how it impacts your business can be difficult. In the commercial property world, it is no different.
COVID-19 BelfastPublic bodies across the globe urgently require essential goods and services to combat the COVID-19 outbreak. The European Commission has published helpful guidance which acknowledges that direct award of contracts to suppliers without tender competitions may be justified at this time.
COVID-19The NI Department of Health published regulations on Saturday imposing new restrictions on businesses in Northern Ireland.
COVID-19 BelfastMany individuals and businesses contending with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic should be aware of some of the emergency measures being put in place to protect the public from the economic and social effects of the pandemic.
COVID-19Irish financial services firms will be aware of the fact that banking and financial services are considered essential services during the COVID-19 pandemic under guidance published by the Department of the Taoiseach on 28 March 2020.
COVID-19The European Union has faced various tests in recent years. COVID-19 is testing the EU's responses in both new and well-tried ways. It is useful to take an overview of some of the EU's responses:
COVID-19Landlords and tenants are facing issues that have never arisen before as a result of the impact of COVID-19. We are continually reviewing this ever changing situation, however, the following are some of the questions that have been raised with us and our responses...
COVID-19 BelfastThe European Commission has found a €200m Irish scheme (the Irish Scheme) to support companies affected by the COVID-19 outbreak to be in conformity with the EU's State aid rules. This is consistent with a number of other recent State aid notifications by other Member States (such as Germany, France, UK and Spain) to the European Commission in the context of the COVID-19 outbreak.
COVID-19One of the measures included in the emergency Coronavirus Bill currently going through Parliament is a moratorium on forfeiture of commercial leases for non-payment of rent for the next three months. This period may be extended if needed.
COVID-19 Belfast