Today's other stories in brief
Increase in complaints to Pensions Ombudsman
There has been a 56 per cent increase in the number of complaints to the Pensions Ombudsman in the first half of 2009, compared with the same period last year, according to the ombudsman, Paul Kenny.
He said 908 new complaints were received in the first six months of the year, as against 582 for the same period last year.
His office was able to close 942 cases in 2009, more than doubling the number closed in the same period in 2008, due to a number of factors, including a new case management system and an increased focus on mediation.
Competition commissioner to speak in Dublin
European Commissioner for Competition Neelie Kroes will speak on Recent Developments in Competition Regulation in Dublin next Friday. Dr Kroes was president of Nyenrode university in the
Netherlands from 1991 to 2000 and was previously Dutch minister for transport and public works.
The talk takes place at 12.45pm on July 17th at the Institute of International and European Affairs office on North Great Georges Street, Dublin. For more details, call 01-8746756 or e-mail
reception@iiea.com.
Irish Centre for European Law seminar
EU Commissioner for Competition Neelie Kroes will be the keynote speaker at the Irish Centre for European Law (ICEL) seminar on Friday next from 2pm to 5.15pm, in the Bar Council Distillery
Building. She will be joined by Bar Council chairman Michael Collins SC, Dr John Temple Lang of Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP and Dr Stanley Wong of the Competition Authority. Three CPD points are available. The fee is EUR50 to members of the ICEL and EUR95 to non-members. Further details: e-mail icel@tcd.ie or phone 01-896 1845.
Book on employment law
Maeve Regan, a solicitor with Arthur Cox & Co, has just published with Tottell Publishing a new book on employment law with 26 contributors. Areas covered include: sources of employment law; the employment relationship; pay, pensions and benefits; employment equality; termination of employment; collective aspects of the employment relationship encompassing employee involvement, trade unions and industrial relations; transfer of undertakings; immigration and cross border issues; taxation and practice and procedure The book costs EUR195.
Contact 01-637 3920 or
Jennifer.lynch@tottelpublishing.com
Irish firms shortlisted
Two Irish firms have been shortlisted by the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) for its
Private Client Awards 2009/2010. They are William Fry Solicitors for UK & Ireland regional legal team of the year and John O'Connor Solicitors for boutique firm of the year.
Annual Bar Council elections
The annual elections of half of the Bar Council took place over the weekend, at which five senior counsel and five junior counsel were elected. The senior counsel were: Dervla Browne; Paul
McDermot; David Nolan; Paul O'Higgins and Colm Ó h Oisín. The junior counsel were:
Conor Dignam; Remy Farrell; Sasha Gayer; Niall O'Driscoll and Bernard Rogan.