Event Details
Join us this 2nd October, in partnership with Matheson, for a briefing on the new Auto-enrolment Pension System and Handling Remote Working Requests.
The Automatic Enrolment System Retirement Savings Act 2024, enacted this summer, sets the stage for Ireland's new pension system, launching in early 2025. All employers should be planning now for the introduction of this new system. In particular, employers operating existing pension arrangements need to understand how the system will work alongside their existing arrangements and contribution obligations, and what potential issues they may encounter once the new system goes live. The session will cover key employer challenges and decision points in respect of this issue.
Separately, as Ireland ranks second in Europe for remote work opportunities, our speakers will also address recent developments in Remote Working Requests which is increasingly becoming an issue which employees are seeking to have exercised. The 2023 Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act allows employees to request, but not automatically secure, remote or flexible working. This year the relevant conditions and procedures to accompany such a request were built upon by the WRC’s Code of Practice on the Right to Request Remote Working. Our speakers will examine the recent seminal decision in Karabko v TikTok (the first decision in Ireland in relation to the right to request remote working) which provided some welcome reassurance for employers on their obligations and the extent to which a request by employees to remote work must be facilitated. Attendees will be provided with a snapshot overview of (i) the rights and obligations set out in the WLB Act, (ii) the requisite guidance of the relevant Code, and (iii) given an insight into the key takeaways from this first WRC decision to help you identify and implement how best to address and respond to requests for remote working within your workplace.
Time:
08:30 AM - 10:00 AM
Venue:
Dublin Chamber, 7 Clare Street, Dublin 2 D02 F9O2
Lorcan Keenan, Partner and Head of Pensions Matheson
Lorcan Keenan is a Partner and Head of Pensions at Matheson.? He advises on the establishment and ongoing operation of all types of Irish pension arrangements, including defined benefit schemes, defined contribution schemes and master trusts.? His clients include a broad mix of employers across various industries, pension scheme trustees, and pension service providers.?He has particular expertise advising on the pensions implications of corporate transactions, group restructurings and TUPE transfers.?Lorcan previously worked as a pensions lawyer in the UK, where he advised clients on the introduction of the UK's automatic enrolment pensions regime in 2012.? Over the last 12 months he has been working with a number of clients on their planning for auto-enrolment, including advising on possible changes to their current pension arrangements and employment terms. His other recent experience includes advising employers on the transition of their pension schemes to master trust, and on new governance requirements introduced by the IORP II Directive.? Lorcan is member of the Council of the Irish Association of Pension Funds, the main representative body for the pensions industry, and a member of the Irish Association of Pensions Lawyers.
Patrick O'Neill, Senior Associate, Matheson
Patrick is a senior associate in Matheson LLP's Employment, Pensions and Benefits Group who regularly advises international and domestic clients, across a broad range of sectors, on employment and immigration law issues. Patrick provides strategic and commercially focused legal advice to his clients on all aspects of the employment relationship including the management of complex grievance and disciplinary processes, general advisory work around the areas of handling protected disclosures and remote working requests, the conducting of large scale investigation processes and the handling of contentious termination of employment issues. Patrick also has extensive experience in managing sensitive and complex employment disputes and litigation, including High Court injunction proceedings, and is regularly lauded by clients and peers for his personable and commercially practicable approach in dealing with such matters.?
Patrick also has considerable experience in acting for clients in employment litigations before Ireland’s Workplace Relations Commission, the Labour Court and the civil courts.
Patrick is an active member of the European Employment Lawyers Association, the Employment Lawyers Association of Ireland and the Irish Immigration Lawyers Association. As well as delivering regular presentations and training to colleagues and clients, Patrick has delivered bespoke training to the Institute of Directors in Ireland on managing employment law risk and defending employment claims.?