Class action lawsuits to form part of civil justice review

Government minister Catherine Byrne announced the decision in the Dáil last night during a debate on the Multi-Party Action Bill 2017.

The private member’s bill was introduced by Sinn Féin TDs Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire and Pearse Doherty.

Ms Byrne, speaking on behalf of Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan, said the bill was technically flawed, particularly as it purported to be based on a Law Reform Commission report which had proposed that multi-party actions be dealt with by Rules of the Superior Courts.

She said: “Whereas the Law Reform Commission took the Rules of Court approach that I have just mentioned, the document before us this evening just copies and pastes those Rules word by word into the text of what is proposed to be a Bill. This was not their intended purpose.”

Ms Byrne said this was one of a number of “fundamental issues” identified by the Department of Justice as well as the Courts Service of Ireland and the Office of the Attorney General.

She concluded: “Taking all of these matters into account, Mr Flanagan has secured the agreement of the Government to refer the question of the introduction of a multi-party action procedure in the Irish legal system for consideration by Mr Justice Peter Kelly as part of the Review of Civil Justice Administration which he has recently commenced.

“In opposing tonight’s Private Member’s Bill for the very substantial reasons I have set out therefore, I would at the same time commend Minister Flanagan’s initiative to the House. Thank you.”