Tughans Solicitors

Principles for Government departments conducting consultations

Consultation in the Spotlight The government has recently published a revised set of consultation principles for government departments conducting consultations. The revised principles follow a number of successful judicial review challenges concerning the fairness of consultation processes. Locally consultation has hit the headlines with the Application for Judicial Review against the early closure of the... Read More

Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan (BMAP) issue needs to be resolved.

Plan-making and decisions on major schemes across much of Northern Ireland are now in difficulties following a High Court judge’s ruling over the status of the Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan (BMAP). The plan covers Belfast City, Carrickfergus Borough, Castlereagh Borough, Lisburn City, Newtownabbey Borough and North Down Borough Council areas where some 40 per cent... Read More

Northern Ireland Corporation Tax: Stimulating Foreign Direct Investment

As widely reported in November 2015, the “Fresh Start” Plan included the agreement that corporation tax would be reduced to 12.5% in April 2018.  Corporation tax rate reduction has been heralded as the answer to unleashing a major influx of investment in Northern Ireland and stimulating unprecedented growth. Corporation tax at 12.5% certainly assists in... Read More

Criminal investigations – How do I handle it?

As part of our ‘How do I handle it’ series on employment law and difficult workplace scenarios, Patricia Rooney, Director at Tughans, considers the following problem and offers some practical advice. This month’s problem concerns: The PSNI have arrived at our office and arrested a member of staff.  I understand the allegations concern a matter outside... Read More

Scope of vicarious liability expanded by Supreme Court

Following two Supreme Court Judgments this week, employers and those in relationships akin to employment are more likely than ever to be held vicariously liable for the actions of those performing duties on their behalf.   1. Liability for the negligent actions of non-employees In Cox v Ministry of Justice UKSC 10 https://www.supremecourt.uk/cases/uksc-2014-0089.html the Supreme... Read More

Waste not, want not – Changes to Food Waste

The Food Waste Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 (“the Regulations”) came into force on 14 February 2015. The purpose of the Regulations is to prevent food waste from going to landfill. The first phase of the legislation required that, from 1 April 2015, food waste voluntarily segregated from other waste at source and collected separately was... Read More

Disciplinary Investigations – How do I handle it?

Rachel Richardson , Director at Tughans, considers the following problem and offers some practical advice: I am an HR manager and have been investigating an allegation that one of our employees has been sending our confidential information to a competitor without any prior authorisation. I have taken several witness statements as part of my investigation,... Read More

New Health and Safety Sentencing Guidelines – effective in England & Wales from 1st February 2016

The ‘Health and Safety Offences, Corporate Manslaughter and Food Safety and Hygiene Offences’ Sentencing Guidelines (the ‘Guidelines’), issued by the Sentencing Council, have just come into force in England & Wales, for those sentenced on or after 1 February 2016, regardless of the date of the offence. The Guidelines are designed to ensure that sentences... Read More

Business Matters: SME Equity Funding

John McGuckian, a partner in Tughans corporate team, shares some practical advice for any SME considering equity funding. Q1. What are the top three things that a company can do o make an equity funding round as smooth as possible? In our experience, those companies who go into a funding process with a really well-honed... Read More

The National Wage – What do I need to know?

Employers should be aware that the National Living Wage comes into effect on 1 April 2016. This requires that workers aged 25 and over be paid £7.20 per hour. The Government have estimated that this will equate to a rise of £910 per annum for a full-time worker. The National Living Wage applies to workers... Read More