A series of EU consumer law developments are being proposed to shape consumer digital contracts in 2026 included among these are online withdrawal rights for consumers.

The Code of Practice on Access to Part-Time Working 2026 (Code) was signed into law by the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment on 22 January 2026. The Code replaces the 2006 Code of Practice on the same topic and provides updated guidance on the requirements of the Protection of Employees (Part-Time Work) Act 2001 (Act).

Can liquidators or their firms contractually limit their liability? This was the issue considered by the High Court of England and Wales (Court) as a preliminary question in Pagden v Fry [2025] EWHC 2316.

The Irish Court of Appeal (Court) has, for the first time, issued general guidance on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the litigation process.

The European Commission’s Digital Omnibus Package (published on 19 November 2025) proposes several amendments to the GDPR designed to reduce barriers to innovation in the field of scientific research.

Speaking at the Irish Consulate in New York on 17 March 2026 alongside Bridget McCormack, President and chief executive of the American Arbitration Association, the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke has announced that Ireland has been selected as the European base for a new international arbitration hub aimed at resolving commercial disputes between European and US companies.

Making predictions about the future trajectory of M&A markets is always fraught with difficulty. Globally, deal advisers report a healthy pipeline of potential transactions to come, but there can be no guarantee that dealmakers will not turn the tap off once again.

On 28 January 2026, the Central Bank of Ireland (Central Bank) opened a public consultation (CP166) on draft supplemental guidance (Draft Guidance) relating to prohibition notices issued under the fitness and probity regime (Consultation).

On 24 March 2026, the revised and modernised Consumer Protection Code (Code) came into force.