Welcome to our March 2024 edition of our Legal News Podcast.

We continue to provide you with a selection of our recent publications below, and our Legal News Podcast where knowledge lawyers, Gail Nohilly and Tara Rush, discuss some interesting developments in mandatory retirement ages in Ireland and exclusive jurisdiction clauses under the Brussels I Recast Regulation.

For more information on any of the topics covered in this edition, please contact the people listed in the articles or your usual William Fry contact.

• IFSAT Critical of the Central Bank’s Decision on PCF Roles
  On 14 February 2024, the Irish Financial Services Appeals Tribunal published its decision on an appeal related to the Central Bank of Ireland’s fitness and probity approval process.
• Decoding the DSA: Practical Takeaways for Online Platforms and Online Marketplaces
  The Digital Services Act came into effect for all online intermediary service providers on 17 February 2024. The DSA is a new regulatory regime that applies to many businesses operating online.
• Brussels Recast, Jurisdiction Clauses and Non-EU Member States (Podcast)
  The Irish High Court recently decided it had jurisdiction in a dispute, notwithstanding a jurisdiction clause in favour of a non-EU member state’s court.
• Mandatory Retirement Ages in Ireland: The Importance of Objective Justification (Podcast)
  An increase in the number of workers seeking to continue in employment beyond the State pension age of 66 was a key issue for many employers in 2023.
• Ireland’s Investment Screening Regime – Getting Ready
  This article gives an overview of how the regime under the Screening of Third Country Transactions Act 2023 is expected to operate, with a focus on jurisdiction, notification process and timing.
• EU Targets Greenwashing Practices in New Directive
  The Directive on Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition Through Better Protection Against Unfair Practices and Information has been passed by the European Parliament.
• Directors’ Duties: UK High Court gives further guidance on ‘Creditor Duty’ for Directors
  Following on from the UK Supreme Court decision in Sequana, the UK High Court (UKHC) in Hunt v Singh [2023] EWHC 1784 (Ch), further considered the duty of directors to take into account the interests of creditors in certain circumstances.
• The AI Office – What You Need to Know
  The European Commission’s decision establishing the AI Office enters into force on 21 February 2024.
• Tax Update Concerning Revenue Opinions/Confirmations
  In December 2023, Revenue released an eBrief (No.258/23) updating Tax and Duty Manual, Review of Opinions or Confirmations, Part 37-00-41.