Legislation aimed at addressing the ongoing disruption to the Irish economy, and the compelling need to make credit more available, has been enacted. Lindsay Stevens of our Banking & Financial Services Department outlines the main provisions of the Credit Institutions (Stabilisation) Act 2010. 

The European Commission has opened an investigation into allegations that Google has abused a dominant position in the market for online searching, in breach of EU competition rules.

A recent decision by the UK Supreme Court has reduced the efficacy of the ‘Without Prejudice Privilege’. Our Litigation & Dispute Resolution Department outlines the decision.

On 22 December, the Supreme Court finished hearing an appeal by Patrick McKillen in relation to his unsuccessful High Court challenge of the transfer of his loans to the National Asset Management Agency. Lindsay Stevens of our Banking & Financial Services Department outlines the five primary issues addressed in the appeal. 

Under the Companies Act 1963, a director must declare the nature of any interest, whether direct or indirect, in any contract or proposed contract with the company of which he or she is a director. Our Corporate Department provides some practical tips in relation to this statutory requirement.

On 17 December, the Irish Stock Exchange published new listing rules which require Irish listed companies to comply with additional corporate governance provisions, or to explain why they are not doing so.

ComReg has published for consultation a draft Code of Practice for Premium Rate Services (PRS) which, if adopted, will be legally binding and will impose significant additional obligations on PRS providers which are not present in the current, non-binding, Code of Practice. 

New rules governing the application of Irish competition rules to vertical agreements have recently come into effect.