PSNI Holiday Pay Case listed for hearing in the Supreme Court
In November 2018, the Employment Tribunal decided that deductions from the holiday pay of 3,700 police officers and civilian support staff of the Police Service of Northern Ireland was unlawful and in breach of fundamental European law rights. Read more
WE ARE OPEN
Coronavirus Update: Our new offices are open and we are welcoming clients old and new at Northern Court, 16-18 Gloucester Street, Belfast BT1 4LS.
The safety of our staff and clientele is paramount. Our spacious reception has seating spaced at least 1m apart and the reception desk is divided by a perspex screen. Read more
Pavement Café Licences – what is the law?
Our Partner, Colin Mitchell, joined Joel Neill of Hospitality Ulster today to discuss the challenges facing the Hospitality sector as businesses look to expand their licences to outdoor spaces.
If you require any advice in relation to licensing matters, please contact Colin on 02890329801 or colin.mitchell@mtb-law.co.uk Read more
Breaking News – The Stamp Duty Holiday
Many of us have had to cancel or postpone our summer holidays due to the Covid pandemic, but the Chancellor has just announced another sort of holiday – the Stamp Duty holiday!
From today, there will be no stamp duty to pay on the first £500k of all property purchases in Northern Ireland and England. Read more
Will I have to apply for Probate?
Finance Minister Conor Murphy is launching a consultation which will suggest an increase on the amount of money that can be released to beneficiaries of a deceased person without having to apply for a Grant of Probate. Read more
New Chapter and New Premises for McCartan Turkington Breen Solicitors
As a result of lockdown rules around the world, the heart was ripped out of cities across the globe as people began to work from home. Spare bedrooms and kitchen tables doubled as new office space and many parents faced the challenges of home-schooling. Read more
Northern Ireland Assembly approves Corporate Insolvency and Governance Bill
The Corporate Insolvency and Governance Bill was approved in the Northern Ireland Assembly on 1st June 2020. The Bill, which extends Northern Ireland’s legislative provisions to match the emergency measures available in Great Britain, will ensure that vital support is given to local businesses to help them through this period of financial instability. Read more
REFORMS TO THE CORONAVIRUS JOB RETENTION SCHEME
The UK government announced the following reforms to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme on 29th May 2020:
- The scheme will close to new entrants on 30th June 2020. Therefore, the last day that employers can place employees on furlough is 10th June 2020 as new entrants must have been furloughed for a full 3 weeks prior to 30th June 2020.
EasyJet Reveals Data Breach of up to 9 Million Customers
EasyJet has revealed that a recent cyber-attack has resulted in the personal information of 9 million of its customers being accessed. Additionally, 2,208 of the 9 million customers affected have had their credit card details stolen. Read more
Q&A – Expiring Driving Licences to be Automatically Extended
- What is happening?
Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon has announced that arrangements are to be put in place in the coming days for expiring driving licences to be automatically extended. Any licence due to expire between 1st February and 31st August 2020 will be extended for a further seven months. Read more
COVID-19: Car Insurance and MOT
There have been various welcome financial reliefs introduced since the Covid 19 upheaval took effect. The FCA recently published updated guidance for insurance firms on how the industry should accommodate customers who are struggling with payments at the moment. Read more
IS YOUR BUSINESS READY TO REOPEN POST LOCKDOWN?
The NI Executive issued its 5-stage recovery plan on 12th May 2020, setting out the various stages for easing the lockdown restrictions. As businesses start to re-open in line with the plan, it is important that employers implement and adhere to health and safety guidelines to protect the well-being of all employees. Read more
RETURNING TO WORK AFTER COVID-19
The Government is currently preparing a plan to what life is going to look like after the COVID-19 lockdown is lifted and we return to some form of normality. It seems certain that life will continue to look very different to a few months ago and employers need to prepare for what the future is going to look like. Read more
Can I make a Will during Lockdown?
The restrictions imposed as a result of the lockdown have been unprecedented and, due to social distancing, the provision of legal services have been significantly affected.
One area of law that has received recent exposure in the wider media, due to the effects of Covid-19, is that of making of a will. Read more
FAQs – MATERNITY RIGHTS DURING COVID-19
If you are pregnant or currently on maternity leave the current coronavirus pandemic is sure to have caused extra worry from both a health and financial prospective. This article deals with a number of the most common concerns regarding pregnancy rights and maternity rights during this time. Read more
Cyber-bullying and Covid-19
The world is presently in lockdown in an attempt to stem the spread of Coronavirus. We are concerned for our immediate family, friends and colleagues. We have seen weekly appreciation for those NHS workers and people in the front line caring for sick people. Read more
FURLOUGHED WORKERS – AN UPDATE
The Government has provided updated guidance on furloughed workers which has helped clarify some issues. Below is a summary of the important issues:
- What can employers claim for in relation to wages?
Employers can apply for a grant that covers 80% of their usual monthly wage costs, up to £2,500 a month, plus the associated Employer National Insurance contributions and minimum automatic enrolment employer pension contributions on that wage. Read more
Covid 19 – Business Tenancies in Northern Ireland
In well-drawn commercial leases there is invariably provision that the landlord may bring proceedings for re-entry of the premises and termination of the lease if the rent is in arrears or the tenant is in breach of its obligations. Read more
PSNI Announce Reduction in Detected Motor Offences
The PSNI’s annual Motoring Offences Statistics have recorded a 13% decrease in detected offences during 2019. In 2019 there were 47,065 detections, down from 53,911 in 2018.
16% of the detections were for speeding offences, with the highest speed recorded at 135mph on the A1 dual carriageway, where the speed limit is 70mph. Read more
Leave to appeal AND Cross-Appeal Northern Ireland Court of Appeal to Supreme Court in ‘Unpaid Holiday Leave’ case
In June 2019 our Employment Department secured a landmark result at the Court of Appeal, having successfully challenged an appeal against an important Employment Tribunal decision which held that unlawful deductions from holiday pay entitlements are in breach of fundamental rights protected under EU Law. Read more
