Ep1 - Planning Ahead - The Planning And Development Act 2024 (Podcast)

Ireland's Building Control Regulations underwent significant expansion in May 2025, creating unexpected compliance challenges for developers and advisers. The certificate of compliance on completion has emerged as a critical bottleneck in transactions, while projects caught mid-stream face complex regime questions that can stall financing and occupation.

Matheson's quarterly construction bulletin examines recent developments in Ireland's construction and infrastructure sectors, including the introduction of a simplified Building Energy Rating scale, the practical implications of force majeure clauses amid global conflicts, and key court decisions on construction contract amendments.

Matheson's quarterly construction bulletin examines recent developments in Ireland's construction and infrastructure sectors, including a simplified Building Energy Rating scale...

The Critical Infrastructure Act 2026 is commenced, as we outline in our Insights blog post: Critical Infrastructure Act 2026 commenced. Several projects have been designated as critical infrastructure projects, as we outline in our public procurement section.

Ireland's Critical Infrastructure Act 2026 introduces a statutory framework to accelerate strategically important infrastructure projects through mandatory prioritisation by public bodies. Nine major projects spanning transport, water, and energy have been designated, raising questions about how accelerated delivery will be balanced against climate obligations. The legislation's disapplication of certain climate considerations has sparked debate about the intersection of infrastructure urgency and environme

The Irish High Court has clarified the extent to which commercial property owners can use force to regain possession of their premises. In a case involving a warehouse sale following loan default and receivership, the court examined whether breaking glass and cutting through steel shutters constituted lawful recovery of property. The decision provides important guidance on the boundaries between legitimate property recovery and unlawful forcible entry.

Amendments have been made to public works contracts with the intent of improving dispute management in public construction projects. Measures are designed to encourage early resolution, allow for appointment of Standing Conciliators to chair Project Boards on major projects, and maintain fast-track arbitration alongside options for more complex cases.

The Government published the Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2026 on 26 June 2026 in advance of commencing the remaining provisions of the Planning and Development Act 2024.

Construction adjudication is evolving rapidly in Ireland and England, with landmark Irish High Court decisions reshaping the landscape by closing off smash-and-grab tactics and defining the boundaries of the Construction Contracts Act 2013.

The Planning and Development (Costs of Part 9 Judicial Review Proceedings) Regulations 2026, which came into operation on 18 May 2026, introduce a fixed statutory schedule of costs caps governing the legal costs recoverable by a successful applicant in planning judicial review proceedings taken under the Planning and Development Act 2024.

European securities regulators are launching a comprehensive assessment of crypto-asset service providers' digital operational resilience, with a particular focus on custody activities and distributed ledger technology risks. The exercise will examine how firms manage critical areas including key storage, transaction controls, incident response, and third-party dependencies under the newly enforceable Digital Operational Resilience Act.

The Pay Transparency Directive (Directive) aims to strengthen the principle of equal pay for equal work or work of equal value between men and women and expands upon current Gender Pay Gap (GPG) reporting requirements. Pay transparency measures introduced by the Directive will empower workers to access information to challenge pay inequality within an organisation.

Under this Act, if an employee has an employment contract with a mandatory retirement age that is lower than the State pension age (currently 66) (State Pension Age), the employee has the right to notify their employer that they do not consent to retire at that earlier age. The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) has also updated its Code of Practice on Longer Working (Code) to reflect what employers and employees need to do under the Act.

The Insurance (Disregard of Certain Medical History and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2026 introduces sweeping changes to the Central Bank of Ireland's regulatory powers over insurers and reinsurers. Beyond the widely discussed "right to be forgotten" provisions for cancer survivors seeking mortgage protection, the legislation fundamentally expands the grounds on which the Central Bank can petition for winding-up orders and extends these powers to cover reinsurers for the first time.

This August 2026 edition of Funds Focus examines critical regulatory developments affecting asset management and investment funds, including the Central Bank of Ireland's...

The Irish High Court has ruled on whether a foreign judgment creditor can invoke Irish courts to recognize and enforce an overseas judgment, examining whether rights under aircraft leasing arrangements—including maintenance reserve reimbursement rights, lease deposits, and interests in Irish aviation structures—constitute assets for jurisdictional purposes.

Understanding Ireland's work and residence permissions system is crucial for employers hiring international talent. This video explores the requirements for third country nationals seeking employment in Ireland, covering employment permit categories, application prerequisites, and the essential steps employers must complete before bringing foreign workers onboard.

The Irish High Court has expanded the scope of Norwich Pharmacal Orders beyond traditional litigation contexts, ruling that RTÉ must disclose unedited undercover footage from nursing homes to support a regulatory investigation. This landmark decision addresses critical questions about when courts can compel third parties to provide information, the boundaries of journalistic material disclosure, and how privacy rights balance against urgent public interest in regulatory enforcement.

Ireland's examinership process provides a unique corporate rescue mechanism for international restructuring, offering automatic EU recognition, worldwide creditor moratorium, and cross-class cram down capabilities. This comprehensive guide examines how non-Irish companies can leverage examinership for complex cross-border restructurings, featuring case studies of major transactions including Norwegian Air, Mallinckrodt plc, and Weatherford, with comparative analysis against UK and US restructuring framework

When a worker raises a protected disclosure in Ireland, employers must follow specific legal procedures under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014. This video outlines the critical steps organisations need to take, from establishing internal reporting channels to conducting proper investigations and avoiding criminal offences. Understanding these requirements is essential for maintaining compliance and protecting both whistleblowers and the organisation.