Seamus McGranaghan qualified as a Solicitor in O'Reilly Stewart Solicitors in 2003 and is an experienced Commercial Lawyer dealing with employment, commercial and education cases.
He has experience in the Industrial Tribunal representing both Claimants and Respondents and has provided seminars in relation to particular areas of employment law. Seamus is the only member of the Education and Law Association in Northern Ireland. He specialises in advising schools and colleges on policy matters, employment issues and student welfare. He is also responsible for the Education Law Quarterly Review.
In addition to having contributed at Legal Island’s Education Updates since 2010, Seamus in association with Legal Island provides a live “Employment Law @ 11” webinar on the first Friday of each month, dealing with all aspects of Employment law affecting Northern Irish employers.
Each month, Legal Island’s popular ‘Employment Law at 11’ webinar with Seamus McGranaghan, Director from O’Reilly Stewart Solicitors, brings sharp legal insight on topical issues.
‘Seamus Says’ offers key takeaways so you can file them away for future reference (and avoid filing tribunal paperwork later!)
What are your thoughts on SSP changes coming to NI?
Christine: Now, certainly my understanding is SSP comes from HMRC as opposed to . . . Am I right in saying that, Seamus? It comes from HMRC? It's not a devolved matter even though it's employment. Or am I barking up the wrong tree?
Seamus: Yeah, that's my understanding. Within the Good Jobs Bill, there is talk around . . . Even the national minimum wage is dealt with by London, and there is discussion within that about pulling that power back and letting us in Northern Ireland, our parliamentarians, our MLAs, deal with national minimum wage and things like that.
But yeah, that's my understanding, is that it's an HMRC issue. And there used to be the day that you could reclaim back the SSP, and to an extent, I think that was a big change for employers, that they become personally responsible.
There's maybe some chat around what the rate of the SSP would be as well. And that might be similar to . . . there's a certain reduced amount that can be provided, but it would be more than what the current rate is, that there might be some increase or hike to SSP. But based on what your weekly wage is, it might be weighted in that sense.
Christine: So essentially, we believe if the changes do come in, it'll be UK-wide. So it will include Northern Ireland at that point.
Seamus: Yes.
Missed the webinar?
If you didn’t catch it live and want to hear more from Seamus on this critical topic, you can watch the full recording here:
Employment Law at 11 - 7th March 2025
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