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 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 150 documents (Consultation Papers and Reports) containing proposals for law reform. For details, click here

70% of these proposals have resulted in reforming legislation.  For details, click here

In the 1980s and 1990s, the Commission's work has included recommending the removal of the concept of illegitimacy from our law; and recommending reform of our criminal law, including the need for confiscating the proceeds of crime.  For more details, click here

In the last decade, the Commission has also responded to changes in Irish society by recommending reform of the law on cohabitants (same sex and opposite sex couples) and the law regulating apartment complex management companies. The Commission also recommended the development of a limited DNA Database. For full details, click here

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 currently 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. For more details, click here

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. For more details, click here

Tuesday 22nd December 2009: The Law Reform Commission’s Consultation Paper on Children and the Law: Medical Treatment will be launched by Mr Barry Andrews, TD, Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, at the Commission’s offices at 6.30 pm this evening. The Consultation Paper forms part of the Commission’s Third Programme of Law Reform 2008-2014. In the Consultation Paper, the Commission makes over 20 provisional recommendations for reform, which are aimed at (a) ensuring that mature teenagers have their views fully taken into account when they seek medical treatment and (b) providing clarity to health care professionals and families.  For a summary of the contents click here.

The Consultation Paper on Children and the Law: Medical Treatment will appear here at 2.30pm

Wednesday 16th December 2009: The Law Reform Commission’s Consultation Paper on Search Warrants and Bench Warrants will be launched by Mr Justice Nicholas Kearns, President of the High Court, at the Commission’s offices at 6 pm this evening. The Consultation Paper forms part of the Commission’s Third Programme of Law Reform 2008-2014. In the Consultation Paper, the Commission makes 35 provisional recommendations which are intended to improve the efficiency of the law in this area.  For a summary of the contents click here

The Consultation Paper on Search Warrants and Bench Warrants will appear here at 2.30pm

Monday 14th December 2009: The Law Reform Commission’s Report on Defences in Criminal Law will be launched by Mr Dermot Ahern, TD, Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform at the Commission’s offices at 5 pm this evening. The Report makes 46 specific recommendations for reform of the law, and includes a draft Criminal Law (Defences) Bill 2009 to implement these recommendations.  The Report deals with: legitimate defence (self-defence); defence of the home; use of force in law enforcement; the defence of provocation; and the defences duress and necessity.  For a summary of the contents, click here

Click here for Report on Defences in Criminal Law

Thursday 10th December 2009: The Law Reform Commission’s Consultation Paper on Documentary and Electronic Evidence will be launched by the Attorney General, Paul Gallagher SC at the Commission’s offices.  The Consultation Paper forms part of the Commission’s Third Programme of Law Reform 2008-2014. The Consultation Paper makes wide-ranging provisional recommendations for reform of the law on the admissibility of manually-generated and electronic documents and records in both civil and criminal trials. The recommendations are aimed at ensuring more efficient court procedures.  For a summary of the contents click here.  For the full text of the Consultation Paper on Documentary and Electronic Evidence, click here

22nd September 2009: Publication of the Commission's Consultation Paper on Personal Debt Management and Debt Enforcement.  The Consultation Paper contains 122 provisional recommendations and suggestions for reform of the law on personal debt management and debt enforcement.  This includes the Commission's view that the law should recognise the distinction between debtors who cannot pay and those who refuse to pay (those who "can't pay" and those who "won't pay").  For a summary of the main contents, click here.  For the full text of the Consultation Paper on Personal Debt Managment and Debt Enforcement click here.

16th September 2009: Publication of the Commission’s Report on Bioethics: Advance Care Directives.  The Report recommends the introduction of a legislative framework for advance care directives and includes a draft Mental Capacity (Advance Care Directives) Bill 2009 to implement the key recommendations made. For a summary of the main contents,  click here.  For the full text of the Report on Bioethics: Advance Care Directives, click here. 

If you would like to make submissions on any aspect of the Commission’s current work, contact us here