Power politics: the end of subsidies for onshore wind farms?

Article

Ahead of the recent election it was no secret that the Conservatives wanted to see a cut in taxpayer support for the development of wind farms. What did come as a surprise was the recent announcement by the Westminster Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) that the main form of subsidy for wind farms would suddenly be closed in March 2016.

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NI Companies Required to Disclose Details of Persons with Significant Control

Article

Recent legislative changes mean that with effect from January 2016 every UK private and public company (subject to certain exemptions in the case of public limited companies) will be required to maintain a register of persons having significant control of the company (a PSC register). Whilst not currently the case, it is expected that the requirement to create and maintain a PSC register will be

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Consultation on corporate tax transparency launched by the European Commission

Article

The European Commission (EC) has launched a public consultation on the issue of corporate tax transparency in the EU. The objective of the consultation is to establish whether requiring companies to disclose more information about the taxes they pay could highlight and help tackle tax avoidance and aggressive tax practices within the EU. One of the proposed initiatives is that companies could be r

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Suspension - New caselaw on the thorny question - to suspend or not?

Article

A recent High Court decision, where the reinstatement of an employee was ordered after five years out of the business, should ring alarm bells for employers who are considering imposing a "holding suspension" on employees. Tread carefully, check your facts and seek advice are the learning points from the latest judicial guidance on this tricky issue.

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High Court Awards Damages for Breach of Oral Contract

Article

In Hennigan v Roadstone Wood Ltd [2015] IEHC 326, the High Court awarded a Plaintiff damages for breach of contract and misrepresentation despite the fact that the contract was not recorded in writing. The case illustrates the importance of producing strong corroborative evidence in proving the existence of an oral agreement.

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Tracker, Financial Services Regulation & Compliance - Funds

Article

On the Domestic Front: Director of Market Supervision, Gareth Murphy, addresses the Irish Funds Annual Conference. The Central Bank publish a document for Fund Management Company Boards and a revised AIF Rulebook. And the Central Bank's Q&As for AIFMD and UCITS are updated

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Tracker, Financial Services Regulation & Compliance - Investment Firms

Article

On the Domestic Front: Central Bank issues letter to industry following themed inspection of Client Categorisation for Investment Firms. On the International Front: European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs) consult on margin requirements for non-centrally cleared derivatives. European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) issues its Q1 risk dashboard for securities markets.

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Tracker, Financial Services Regulation & Compliance - Banking

Article

On the Domestic Front: Central Bank identifies weaknesses in lenders’ compliance with the Code of Conduct on Mortgage Arrears. The IBRC Commission of Investigation's Terms of Reference are revised. Regulations providing for credit institutions' maintenance of accounts are introduced.

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