Under the 1975 Act, the Attorney General may also request the Commission to examine specific areas of law in addition to those in a Programme of Law Reform.  Below you will find a list of the all the references made by the Attorney General to the Law Reform Commission and the resulting Reports published.

 

2017

Matter referred: Sexual offences: consent, knowledge and belief (referred April 2017)

 

2015

Matter referred: Defamation and Court Reporting (referred December 2015)

 

2009

Matter Referred: Mandatory Sentencing

Resulting Report: Report on Mandatory Sentences (LRC 108-2013)

 

2006

Matter Referred: Civil Liability of Good Samaritans and Volunteers (referred January 2006)

Resulting Report: Report on the Civil Liability of Good Samaritans and Volunteers (LRC 93-2009)

 

2005

Matter Referred: Adoption Law: Recognition of Foreign Adoptions by Irish Citizens Abroad (Referred November 2005)

Resulting Report: Report on Aspects of Intercountry Adoption (LRC 89-2008)

 

2003

Matter Referred: Prosecution Appeals from unduly lenient sentences in the District Court

Resulting Report: Report on Prosecution Appeals and Pre-Trial Hearings (LRC 81-2006)

 

Matter Referred: The Establishment of a DNA Database

Resulting Report: Report on the Establishment of a DNA Database (LRC78-2005)

 

2002

Matter Referred: To undertake a study to examine the possible benefits of a revenue court and a fiscal prosecutor

Resulting Report: Report on a Fiscal Prosecutor and a Revenue Court (LRC 72-2004)

 

1998

Matter Referred: 'Gazumping'

Resulting Report: Report on Gazumping (LRC 59-1999)

 

Matter Referred: Overlap between damages award in personal injuries action and other benefits received by the plaintiff

Resulting Report: Report on the Civil Liability (Amendment) Act 1964: The Deductability of Collateral Benefits from Awards of Damages (LRC 68-2002)

 

1997

Matter Referred: The Statute of Limitation in cases in contract and tort involving latent damage other than personal injury

Resulting Report: Report on the Statute of Limitation: Claims in Contract and Tort in repect of Latent Damage (other than Personal Injury) (LRC 64-2001)

 

Matter Referred: Aggravated, Exemplary and Restitutionary Damages

Resulting Report: Report on Aggravated, Exemplary and Restitutionary Damages (LRC 60-2000)

 

1994

Matter Referred: The Law Relating to Bail

Resulting Report: Report on an Examination of the Law of Bail (LRC 50-1995)

 

1992

Matter Referred: The Law Relating to Occupiers' Liability

Resulting Report: Report on Occupiers' Liability (LRC 46-1994)

 

1989

Matter Referred: The Law of defamation and contempt of court

Resulting Reports:

• Report on the Civil Law of Defamation (LRC 38-1991)

• Report on Contempt of Court (LRC 47-1994)

 

1987

Matter Referred: Aspects of Criminal Law, including:

1. sentencing policy;
2. indexation of fines;
3. confiscating and proceeds of crime; and
4. whether there is need to revise or update the law relating to the various offences which are mainly governed by pre-1922 legislation, including, in particular, the laws relating to dishonesty, malicious damage and offences against the person

Resulting Reports:

• Report on Receiving Stolen Property (LRC 23-1987)

• Report on Malicious Damage (LRC 26-1998)

• Report on the Confiscation of the Proceeds of Crime (LRC 35-1991)

• Report on the Indexation of Fines (LRC 37-1991)

• Report on the Crime of Libel (LRC 41-1991)

• Report on the Law Relating to Dishonesty (LRC 43-1992)

• Report on Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person (LRC 45-1994)

• Report on Sentencing (LRC 53-1996)

 

Matter Referred: Sexual Offences Generally (Including in particular the law relating to rape and the sexual abuse of children)

Resulting Reports:

• Report on Rape and Allied Offences (LRC 24-1988)

• Report on Child Sexual Abuse (LRC 32-1990)

• Report on Sexual Offences Against the Mentally Handicapped (LRC 33-1990)

 

Matter Referred: The Law Relating to compensation for personal injuries cases including in particular:

1. provision for periodic payments and the making of provisional awards; and
2. the Statute of Limitations in cases of latent Personal Injury

Resulting Reports:

• Report on the Statute of Limitations in Cases of Latent Personal Injuries (LRC 21-1987)

• Report on Personal Injuries: Periodic Payments and Structured Settlements (LRC 54-1996)

 

Matter Referred: The Law relating to Sheriffs, the collection of taxes and debt collection

Resulting Reports:

• Report on Debt Collection: (1) the Law Relating to Sheriffs (LRC 27-1988)

• Report on Debt Collection: (2) Retention of Title (LRC 28-1988)

 

Matter Referred: Conveyancing Law and Practice, and where this could lead to savings for house purchasers

Resulting Reports:

• Report on Land Law and Conveyancing Law : (1)General Proposals (LRC 30-1989)

• Report on Land Law and Conveyancing Law (2) Enduring Powers of Attorney (LRC 31-1989)

• Report on Land Law and Conveyancing Law (3) Passing the Risk from Vendor to Purchaser (LRC 39-1991)

• Report on Land Law and Conveyancing Law (4) The Service of Completion Notices (LRC 40-1991)

• Report on Land Law and Conveyancing Law (5) Further General Proposals (LRC 44-1992)

• Report on Interests of Vendor and Purchaser in Land during Period between Contract and Completion (LRC 49-1995)

• Report on Land Law and Conveyancing Law (6) Further General Proposals Including the Execution of Deeds (LRC 56-1998)

• Report on the Rule Against Perpetuities and Cognate Rules (LRC 62-2000)

• Report on the Acquisition of Easements and Profits a Prendre by Prescription (LRC 66-2002)

• Report on Title by Adverse Possession of Land (LRC 67-2002)

• Report on Land Law and Conveyancing Law: (7) Positive Covenants over Freehold Land and other proposals (LRC 70-2003)

• Report on Reform and Modernisation of Land Law and Conveyancing Law (LRC 74-2005)

 

1977

Matter Referred: Nullity of Marriage

Resulting Report: Report on the Nullity of Marriage (LRC 9-1984)

 

1976

Matter Referred: Prohibited Degrees of Relationship in Law of Marriage

Resulting Report: Report on the Nullity of Marriage (LRC 9-1984)

 

1975

Matter Referred: Domicil of Married Women

Resulting Report: Report on Domicile and Habitual Residence as Connecting Factors in the Conflict of Laws (LRC 7-1983)