News

Northern Ireland's Department of Justice is consulting on proposed changes to policing codes of practice in response to new counter-terrorism and national security legislation. The 12-week consultation seeks views on proposed changes to the Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989

Major reforms to mental health legislation have been approved by ministers. The Mental Health Bill, to be published next week, will replace the existing Mental Health Acts 2001–2022 with the aim of providing a modern legal framework that will protect the rights of people with mental health dif

New legislation is to ensure that women undergoing treatment for cancer or other serious illnesses will not be forced to use maternity leave during treatment. The general scheme of the Maternity Protection (Amendment) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2024 will allow mothers who require treatment fo

Landmark legislation abolishing juries in High Court defamation cases and introducing measures to tackle so-called SLAPPs will be published next week. The Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024 will make the most significant reforms to Irish defamation law in 15 years, following a public consultation on r

EU member states have made progress in addressing rule of law issues over the past year, according to the European Commission's latest annual rule of law report. More than two-thirds (68 per cent) of the recommendations issued in the 2023 report have been fully or partially addressed, the report say

Ms Justice Niamh Hyland is to be appointed to the Court of Appeal in one of a series of judicial appointments approved by ministers yesterday. The High Court judge will fill the vacancy arising from the resignation of Ms Justice Úna Ní Raifeartaigh in order to be appointed to the Europ

Germany has objected to Turkish efforts to impose rules across the EU on what can and can't be called a doner kebab. Turkey is trying to secure 'traditional speciality guaranteed' status for doner, strictly defining it as beef and lamb horizontally sliced into cutlets with a thickness of 3-5mm, or c

The disAbility Legal Network hosted its second annual Disability Pride brunch in Dublin on Saturday, with support from A&L Goodbody.

International law firm Bird & Bird has reported a 10 per cent increase in revenue to a record €632 million. The firm, which opened an office in Dublin two years ago, also saw net profit increase by 5.4 per cent, with profit per equity partner up 8.1 per cent to €837,000.

Dozens of new prison officers are being recruited in Northern Ireland in response to a "very steep rise" in prisoner numbers. Northern Ireland's prison population has increased by over 500 prisoners since July 2021 and now stands at 1,920.

The Bibby Stockholm barge will no longer be used to house asylum from January next year, the UK government has announced. Moored in Portland, Dorset, it is one of three major accommodation sites for asylum seekers. The "floating prison" was commissioned in April 2023 but only began housing peop

France's notoriously heavy-handed police have been ordered to be on their best behaviour as up to 1.5 million tourists descend on Paris for the Olympic Games. Some 3,600 officers have agreed to take foreign language lessons — mostly English — to offer better assistance to visitors, The T

US firms now account for three of the five highest-earning corporate law firms in London, according to new analysis. Chicago-headquartered Kirkland & Ellis is earning £422 million from its London office, while Los Angeles-based Latham & Watkins is earning £341 million — bot

Further strikes have not been ruled out as criminal barristers today embark on the third and final day of withdrawal of services planned for this legal term. Protests are taking place at 11 courthouses around the State, including the Four Courts in Dublin as well as courthouses in Carlow, Ennis, Cor

Beauchamps partner John Gaffney has been appointed as a co-chair of the European Law Institute's dispute resolution special interest group. Mr Gaffney, a partner in the EU and competition and ESG teams at Beauchamps, will chair the SIG alongside Professor Dr Ana Keglevic and Professor Dr Maud Piers.