Two sets of regulations were laid before Parliament which confirm the government’s proposed changes in two areas of employment law. The first changes the current rules on flexible working, while the second increases the special protections from redundancy afforded to employees who are pregnant or returning from statutory family leave. Flexible working • The...
The right for a data subject to have access to their personal data is a key principle of data protection law, and one which generally entitles individuals to submit a data subject access request (“SAR”) in order to receive copies of the personal data held about them, usually within one month and usually without being...
This morning, the UK Supreme Court handed down its long awaited decision in Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland and another v Agnew and others, dismissing each ground of appeal. This case concerned police officers and civilian staff who brought claims for underpayment of holiday pay, having historically received only basic pay...
The EU Parliament and Council have reached a provisional agreement on new rules to ban misleading advertisements and provide consumers with better product information. The deal requires final approval from both the EU Parliament and the Council. The vote by MEPs is expected to take place in November. When the directive comes into force, member...
The recent case of ClientEarth v Shell plc , in which environmental charity ClientEarth attempted to bring a challenge against the British multinational oil and gas company Shell plc within the remit of the Companies Act 2006, serves to highlight a number of developing trends in national and global environmental litigation. In ClientEarth v Shell...
When we hear about a data breach we tend to think about cyber attacks, hackers, or malware. However, most data breaches stem from some form of human error. This is particularly clear in light of the recent high-profile data breach incidents involving the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), where the personal details of 10,000...
To date, ESG reporting has been largely voluntary, leaning heavily on non-financial data. However, new regulations due to come into force in 2024 will require businesses to disclose both the impact their activities have on ESG metrics, and how they are prepared to mitigate physical risks and transition risks related to climate change. The summer...
In a long-anticipated development, Ireland has recently taken significant steps to prioritise patient safety with the introduction of the Patient Safety (Notifiable Incidents and Open Disclosure) Act 2023. This legislation establishes a comprehensive framework aimed at promoting transparency within healthcare organisations and improving patient outcomes. Its key provisions highlight an extensive approach to enhancing healthcare...
Under the Health and Safety at Work (Northern Ireland) Order 1978, and related regulations, all employers have a duty to protect the health and safety of their employees in the workplace. This duty is enhanced in relation to expectant and new mothers, while also protecting employees of childbearing age. As part of your health...
Wildfires in the southern Mediterranean have brought climate change to the top of the news agenda again. Closer to home, the European Space Agency (ESA) report that some of the most intense marine heat increases on Earth have developed in seas around the UK and Ireland, with water temperatures as much as 3 to 4C...