Welcome to the website of the Law Reform Commission of Ireland.

The Commission is an independent body established under the Law Reform Commission Act 1975. Our purpose is to keep the law under review and make recommendations for law reform so that the law reflects the changing needs of Irish society.

Since it was established, the Commission has published over 160 documents (Consultation Papers and Reports) containing proposals for law reform.  View information on our publications.

70% of these proposals have resulted in reforming legislation.

The Commission is currently working on its Third Programme of Law Reform 2008-2014 which was prepared after extensive public consultation in 2007. The subjects in the Third Programme being considered by the Commission include debt management and debt enforcement, the duties and rights of fathers, grandparents and the extended family, children and the law, professional home carers and alternatives to litigation to resolve disputes. See more information about our current projects.

The Commission is also committed to ensuring greater accessibility to our laws. This includes preparing administrative consolidations of Acts, called Restatements, making it easier to see the up-to-date text of the law.  The Commission is also responsible for updating the Legislation Directory, a searchable guide to amendments made to Acts. See more information about the Legislation Directory.  The Commission has also published a draft Classified List of Legislation in Ireland.  This comprises a list of over 2,000 post-1922 Acts and over 100 pre-1922 Acts that remain in force, grouped under 36 major subject headings.