Analysis

James Lawless is one of the busiest backbenchers in the Dáil. The barrister and Fianna Fáil politician has chaired the Oireachtas justice committee for the past two years — a hard-working body which deals with more legislation than every other committee combined. The committee's

The first women were admitted to the barristers’ representative body 101 years ago today. Both Frances Kyle and Averil Deverell became students at the King’s Inns in 1920 after the Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act 1919 and a resolution of the King’s Inns Benchers enabled women to

Bill Holohan SC offers thoughts — and a bit of legal history — on the government's landmark licensing law reforms. Last week, Justice Minister Helen McEntee received cabinet approval to reform Ireland’s "antiquated licensing system". The current system is made up of a "patchwork of

Doug McMahon, partner at McCann FitzGerald, examines the tightening regulation of businesses' environmental claims in Ireland and across Europe. As consumers become increasingly well-informed about environmentally friendly practices and causes, brands must ensure that any sustainability claims made

This has been another eventful month for Gavin Booth. On Friday 7 October, a judge at the High Court in Belfast ruled that the PSNI was in breach of a legal duty to carry out an effective investigation into a fatal loyalist gun attack on a pub in Co Down 30 years ago, which involved allegations of c

The Constitution of the Irish Free State was adopted by Act of Dáil Éireann 100 years ago yesterday. The 1922 Constitution officially came into effect just over a month later in early December after receiving royal assent. It was Ireland’s first Constitution and contained 83 Arti

Richard Gray, partner and head of corporate at Belfast-based Carson McDowell, welcomes new clarity on creditor duty. The UK Supreme Court considered the existence, content, and engagement of ‘creditor duty’ for the first time ever in the matter of BTI 2014 LLC (Appellant) v Sequana SA an

The Supreme Court delivered its judgment in O'Shea v Tilman Anhold & Horse Holiday Farm Ltd on the 23rd of October 24 years ago. The case related to a night-time collision between the plaintiff’s car and a horse owned by the second-named defendant holiday farm. The incident caused signific

The High Court gave judgment in the momentous case of Foy v An t-Ard Chláraitheoir 15 years ago today. Dr Lydia Foy is a trans woman who had sex reassignment surgery in 1992. She was the first person in Ireland to issue legal proceedings seeking legal recognition and a new birth certificate r

Pope Gregory IX, the 178th pope of the Catholic Church from 1227 to 1241, is often remembered for issuing a Papal Bull declaring that cats bore Satan’s spirit, which subsequently led to huge numbers of cats being killed throughout Europe. The mass extermination of the continent’s felines

Fergal McGoldrick, a senior associate in Carson McDowell’s media, communications & reputation team, casts his eye over the new Northern Irish “Pre-Action Protocol for Defamation and Other Media and Communication Claims” and its implications for the kaleidoscope of 21st century

Matthew Austin, partner at Hayes solicitors, examines a court ruling clarifying directors' duties under the law. In the recent case of Fennell v Appelbe, both the High Court and the Court of Appeal confirmed the restriction of a director of an insolvent company for a period of five years. The courts

The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) gave judgment in the significant case of Airey v Ireland 43 years ago this Sunday. The case was taken by the late Josie Airey who sought a High Court separation order from her abusive and alcoholic husband of around 20 years. However, Mrs Airey could not af

Comyn Kelleher Tobin partner Denise Kirwan and intern Anna McCormack give an overview of recent changes to child care law in Ireland. The Child Care (Amendment) Act 2022 was signed into law by the President on 19th July 2022. When introducing the Act as a bill in the Dáil, Minister for Childr

Dr Laura Cahillane calls for legislative reform to end the practice of directly elevating attorney generals to the bench. Last June, during the report stage of the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill, the Sinn Féin justice spokesman Martin Kenny put down an amendment to create a cooling-off