Legal News (COVID-19)

On 29 February 2020, the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the Republic of Ireland was announced by the National Public Health Emergency Team.

The Data Protection Commission (“DPC”) recently published two guidance notes in relation to (i) Data Protection and COVID-19 and (ii) Protection of personal data when working remotely.

Gill Woods, Consultant to Hayes solicitors’ Employment Law Group summarises and explains recent emergency measures announced by the government for the purposes of protecting employment in Ireland.

Laura Fannin explores two mechanisms that may be available to excuse the non-performance of contractual obligations in extraordinary circumstances, namely force majeure clauses and the doctrine of frustration.

In these challenging times, Employers are having to make decisions about their business at an unprecedented pace and in circumstances where the decision-making is outside of their control.

On Friday 20 March 2020, the Health (Preservation and Protection and other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest) Act 2020 was signed into law by President Michael D Higgins, having been passed by Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann at unprecedented speed, in light of prevailing circumstances.