Most employers will no doubt already be swamped by the variety of commentary on the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) which will come into force on 25 May 2018. Most of this is generic, so what we will focus on is what an employer in Northern Ireland needs to do, on a practical basis, in readiness.
EmploymentThe Article 29 Working Party (WP29) has published Guidelines on Data Protection Officers (DPOs).
TechnologyThis month the EU and the European Parliament reached political agreement on the proposed Fifth Anti- Money Laundering Directive, while in Ireland the Central Bank amended its Fitness and Probity Individual Questionnaire application (F&P IQ) in advance of the revised Payment Services Directive coming into effect in Ireland on 13 January 2018.
Financial RegulationMiFID II and MiFIR were implemented on 3 January 2018. In advance of this, ESMA continued to issue a number of updates to its Q&As on both pieces of legislation as well as providing a number of opinions and guidance on relating MiFID/ MiFIR related topics.
Financial RegulationOn the domestic front, the Central Bank published its fourth Insurance Quarterly Newsletter of 2017. They also published research into the attitude, behaviour and experience of consumers when buying gadget insurance and identified potential consumer risks in this area. On the European front, EIOPA published an Opinion on service continuity following Brexit. The European Commission adopted...
Financial RegulationThis update covers a Central Bank statement on variation margin requirements under EMIR for physically settled FX forwards, ELTIFs and ESMA asset management sector priorities in 2018.
Financial RegulationOn the domestic front, the Central Bank has issued a Progress Report on its Tracker Mortgage Examination. On a European level, the EBA welcomed the agreement reached on the finalisation of the Basel III framework.
Financial RegulationOn 19 December our Knowledge Bulletin reported that political agreement had been reached on the 5AMLD. This agreed text has now been published.
Asset Management & Investment Funds2017 saw the second highest ever annual number of notifications of M&A deals to the European Commission
EU, Competition & ProcurementAnnual review of M&A transactions notified to Ireland's Competition and Consumer Protection Commission.
Corporate & M&AThe European Commission revises the public procurement thresholds every two years. The new thresholds, published on 18 December 2017, apply from 1 January 2018.
EU, Competition & ProcurementA look at the economic and legal effect of Brexit on EU competition law in Ireland.
Brexit
