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Síobhra Rush provides comment to RTE News on the updated workplace guidance in Ireland
01 February 2022On 31 January 2022 the workplace guidance for Ireland was updated.
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The Law Commissions’ final report on driverless cars proposes shifting liability away from the person in the driving seat…
31 January 2022Following a three-stage project including safety assurance and legal liability and HARPS (looking at how automated vehicles could be used to improve public transport), the Law Commission and Scottish Law Commission have published their eagerly awaited report on autonomous vehicles.
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Ireland: Updated guidance on the return to the workplace and preventing the spread of COVID-19
31 January 2022On 31 January the Transitional Protocol: Good Practice Guidance for Continuing to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19 (the Transitional Protocol), a revision of the Work Safely Protocol, was published by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. It has been very much awaited given the easing of social restrictions and the announcement of a phased return to work from 24 January. It sets out some guidance for employers to support the safe return to physical attendance in the workplace.
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Return to the offices in Ireland: Síobhra Rush comments on the issues arising for employers as they encourage staff back to the office
28 January 2022As employers in Ireland have once again been given the green light to bring their staff back to the office, Síobhra Rush comments on how businesses should approach bringing employees back to the office.
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“Legal expert advises all parties to review return to work issues” – Linda Hynes provides a comment for the Irish Examiner
28 January 2022As restrictions are starting to ease, Linda Hynes has spoken to the Irish Examiner on why employers need to consider potential employee relations and discrimination issues in how they handle any staff requests to continue working from home.
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Carers become eligible for Skilled Worker sponsorship
27 January 2022From 15 February 2022, care workers and home carers will be recognised on the Skilled Worker shortage occupation list. They will also become eligible to apply for the Health and Care Worker visa sub-category of the route.
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UK Online Safety Bill a "missed opportunity", MPs claim: Geraint comments for ITPro
25 January 2022A DCMS report says the "unclear" draft legislation doesn't do enough to tackle child abuse and violence against women and girls.
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Google Analytics under fire in Europe – are we another step closer to data localisation?
25 January 2022Just when we were hoping for a gentle ease into the year, the Austrian Data Protection Authority (DPA) decision of 22 December 2021 was made public and a flurry of concerns around the future of international transfers (not just the use of Google Analytics) ensued.
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Northern Ireland: Getting ready for the return to work
25 January 2022With the NI Executive recently relaxing COVID-19 restrictions, the return to work looks imminent
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Ireland – Long-awaited insight into the right to request remote working
25 January 2022Irish employers and employees have today been given some detail on how the long-awaited right to request remote working will operate. The legislation, once enacted, will introduce for the first time a legal framework in Ireland around requesting remote working arrangements.
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Ireland: You shall return to the office (on a phased basis!)
25 January 2022On 21 January 2022, the Irish government announced the easing of almost all of the Covid-19 restrictions. Taoiseach Micheál Martin said “a phased return to the physical workplace can now commence”. The government press release set out that from Monday 24 January a return to physical attendance in workplaces can commence “on a phased basis appropriate to each sector”.
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Will work places snap back to normal? : Síobhra Rush comments for RTE Radio 1
24 January 2022Síobhra Rush discusses the phased return to work, which can start from today.
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Taxi driver loses appeal concerning “worker” status
21 January 2022The Employment Appeal Tribunal has confirmed that a taxi driver working through the Mytaxi app is not a “worker” of the app operator.
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We’re all getting an extra day’s holiday this year - or are we?
20 January 2022Since the announcement of an extra bank holiday to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee on 3 June, employees have been planning how to spend their bonus extra-long weekend. However, the legal position is not that straightforward. Some employees may find that they won’t be getting an extra day off at all.
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What the Protocol means for employment and equality law in Northern Ireland
19 January 2022While there is a renewed focus on reviewing the customs elements of the Northern Ireland Protocol following Liz Truss’ appointment as Foreign Secretary and the prospect of an Assembly election, Ciara Fulton points out that it is important to remember the important role the Protocol plays in securing the employment and equality protections which were so central to securing peace in Northern Ireland under the Belfast or “Good Friday” Agreement.
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Home Office releases further details of digital right to work check tool
18 January 2022The Home Office has confirmed that the new tool will only be used to validate right to work checks on valid British and Irish passports.
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Stephen O’Flaherty recognised in The Lawyer’s Hot 100 for 2022
18 January 2022Lewis Silkin’s Stephen O’Flaherty has been named in The Lawyer’s Hot 100 for 2022, celebrating the most daring, innovative, and creative lawyers in the UK for the past year. Stephen is one of two associates to be named in this year’s list.
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How do you party like it’s 20th May 2020?
14 January 2022The “BYOB” gathering in the garden at Number 10 Downing Street in May 2020 has led to calls for the Prime Minister’s resignation and debate about workplace rules at that time in the pandemic. But were any rules actually broken, and what implications does this have for other employers?
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The WRC’s Report on its 2020 Decisions and Recommendations
13 January 2022The Irish Workplace Relations Commission (the “WRC”) has issued a “first of its kind” report analysing the decisions and recommendations issued by the WRC in 2020. This report highlights some trends that will be of interest to employers. In this article we summarise the key points and discuss some takeaways for employers.
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Lewis Silkin has advised the shareholders of Cooper Projects Limited, the parent company of DVS Limited, on its acquisition by Midwich
12 January 2022Lewis Silkin has advised the shareholders of Cooper Projects Limited, the parent company of DVS Limited (“DVS”), a UK based distributor of video security products, on its acquisition by Midwich, the UK's leading trade-only distributor of technology solutions.