THE LAW REFORM COMMISSION

AN COIMISIÚN UM ATHCHÓIRIÚ AN DLÍ

EIGHTEENTH REPORT (1996)

IRELAND

The Law Reform Commission

Ardilaun Centre, 111 St Stephen's Green, Dublin 2

© Copyright The Law Reform Commission 1997

First Published March 1997

ISSN 0332-0499

Letter Page

Letter Page

EIGHTEENTH REPORT OF THE LAW REFORM COMMISSION

This report covers the period from 1 January 1996 to 31 December 1996. It is addressed to the Attorney General pursuant to section 6 of the Law Reform Commission Act, 1975. The report details the work undertaken by the Commission in 1996, its publications during that year, and legislative implementation of Law Reform Commission reports.

COMMISSIONERS

The following were the Commissioners in office in 1996:

STAFF

John Quirke is Secretary to the Commission.

At the start of the year the Research Counsellor was Alpha Connelly, BA, LLM, DCL. On 31 January 1996 Dr Connelly left the Commission to take up the position of Legal Advisor in the Department of Foreign Affairs. Gerard Quinn BA, LLB, LLM (Harv), SJD (Harv), Barrister-at-Law, was appointed Research Counsellor on 12 December 1996, to assume duties on 1 January 1997.

At the beginning of the year, Nuala Egan, BCL, LLM (Lond), Barrister-at-Law, Sarah Farrell, LLB, LLM (Lond) Barrister-at-Law, and Lia O'Hegarty, BCL, LLM, (Mich), LLM (Harv) Barrister-at-Law, were Research Assistants. In the course of the year, Ms Egan and Ms Farrell were succeeded by Deirdre Mulligan, LLB, LLM (Edinburgh), Attorney-at-Law (State of New York) and Roisin Pillay, LLB, LLM (Cantab).

The clerical staff during 1996 were Mary Teresa Faherty, Dympna Forde, Martina McGuire, and Maura Whelan.

FUNCTIONS OF THE COMMISSION

The Law Reform Commission was established by the Law Reform Commission Act, 1975 as a statutory body corporate to keep the law under review.

Section 4 (1) of the Act states:

The scope and content of the Commission's research is determined and directed in two primary ways:

FIRST PROGRAMME FOR LAW REFORM

Subsequent to its establishment, and pursuant to the provisions of the Act, the Commission prepared a programme for the examination of different branches of the law, which was subsequently approved by the Government. Copies of the First Programme for Examination of Certain Branches of the Law with a View to their Reform (First Programme for Law Reform) were laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas on 4 January 1977.

The First Programme for Law Reform envisaged an extensive examination of the law. Among the general areas included in the programme were:

The majority of the topics listed in the First Programme for Law Reform have now been dealt with in reports by the Commission. Details of reports on the topics contained in the First Programme for Law Reform are contained in Appendix A.

REQUESTS BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

Research undertaken at the request of the Attorney General has also formed a substantial part of the Commission's work.

On 6 March 1987, the then Attorney General requested the Commission to examine and research certain areas of law and submit to him proposals for reform in relation to the following matters:

In January 1989, the then Attorney General requested the Commission to undertake an examination of and conduct research into the law of defamation and contempt of court, and to

THIS IS AN ORIGINAL PAGE-BREAK:

PAGE NUMBER=3

formulate and submit to him proposals for reform in relation to these areas.

In March 1992, the then Attorney General made a similar request in respect of the law relating to occupier's liability.

In February 1994, the then Attorney General requested the Commission to examine and research the law relating to bail. The Commission was not asked to formulate proposals for reforming the law.

Details of the research undertaken pursuant to requests by the Attorney General are contained in Appendix B.

METHODS OF WORK

The Commission's reports and consultation papers are based on careful and thorough research. In the course of research on any topic, consideration is given to caselaw, legislation, jurisprudence, regulations and academic writings, both domestic and international. The Commission gives particular attention to the law of comparable jurisdictions, as well as proposals put forward by Law Reform bodies in these jurisdictions.

THE CONSULTATION PROCESS

The consultation process is of central importance to the Commission's work. Consultation may take several forms. In the initial stages of its research, the Commission may meet with professionals working in a particular area, or representatives of interest groups. The Commission will then, in most cases, prepare a consultation paper, which will either be published, or, if the subject is a specialised one, distributed to interested experts. The Commission will then seek written submissions from interested parties, on the provisional recommendations made in the consultation paper. These submissions will be taken into account in the drafting of the final report on the subject, and any issues or concerns they raise will be dealt with in the report. In some cases, before the drafting of the final report, a seminar will be held, to which the Commission may invite interested parties, or those who have made submissions.

WORKING GROUPS

Under its establishing Act, the Commission may set up Working Groups, to examine particular areas of the law. Since its inception in 1991, the Working Group on Land Law and Conveyancing has met regularly to review the law in that area. The Working Group has produced several reports on aspects of Land Law and Conveyancing.

The members of the working group are:

PUBLICATIONS IN 1996

By 31 December 1996, the Commission had, since its inception, formulated and submitted to the Taoiseach or the Attorney General 55 Reports containing proposals for reform of the law, as well as 13 Working Papers, 10 Consultation Papers, 17 Annual Reports and an Examination of the Law of Bail.

REPORTS IN 1996

In 1996, the Commission published the following Report on a topic contained in the Commission's First Programme:

In the same year, the Commission published the following Reports on topics referred to it by the Attorney General:

CONSULTATION PAPERS IN 1996

In 1996, the Commission published the following consultation paper on a topic contained in the Commission's first programme:

In the same year, the Commission circulated to selected experts the following Consultation Paper on a topic contained in the First Programme for Law Reform:

THE YEAR'S WORK

CRIMINAL LAW

(i) Sentencing

In July 1996, the Commission published a Report on Sentencing. The report followed a Consultation Paper on Sentencing published in March 1993.

The Commission, in the Report, examined the various views concerning the objects of sentencing. On this question, the Commission divided into majority and minority. The majority favoured a “just desserts” approach to sentencing, based on retribution to be exacted for the offender's blameworthy conduct, while the minority rejected a retributory, just desserts approach, in favour of an emphasis on the rehabilitation of the offender. There was no dissent, however, from the final recommendations of the Report.

Amongst the Report's main recommendations were that:

(ii) Homicide

The Commission continued its study of the law of homicide in 1996, with a view to the publication of a Consultation Paper on the subject in 1997.

FAMILY LAW

(i) Family Courts

In March 1996, the Commission published a Report on Family Courts. A Consultation Paper on the same subject had been published in March 1994. Subsequent to the publication of the Consultation Paper, an extensive consultation process was undertaken, and further meetings of the Commission's Expert Group on Family Courts were convened. The members of the expert group were:

The Report on Family Courts dealt with several areas which had not been covered by the Consultation Paper, including systems of case management, the appeals process, issues surrounding confidentiality in the mediation process and issues surrounding the appointment and secondment of judges.

Amongst the main recommendations of the Commission were:

(ii) Inter-Country Adoption

Following the signing by Ireland, on 19 June 1996, of the Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Cooperation in Respect of Inter-Country Adoption, 1993, the Commission began a study of the legal implications of the implementation of the Convention in Ireland. Implementation of the Convention would have a significant impact on procedures for the adoption of children abroad by Irish parents.

The Commission has considered the views of professionals working in the adoption area, as well as adoptive parents' organisations. It is anticipated that a Consultation Paper on the subject will be published in early 1997.

COMPENSATION FOR PERSONAL INJURIES

Periodic Payments and Structured Settlements

Amongst the requests made by the Attorney General in 1987 was a request for the Commission to consider the law relating to compensation for personal injuries, including, in particular, periodic payments of damages, the making of professional awards, and the limitation period in cases of latent personal injuries. The latter aspect of that reference was addressed in 1987 in the Report on the Statute of Limitations: Claims in Respect of Latent Personal Injuries. Since 1993, the Commission has been studying the law on structured settlements. A Report was published in December 1996.

The Commission's principal recommendations are that:

PRIVACY

Surveillance and the Interception of Communications

In October 1996, the Commission published a Consultation Paper entitled Privacy: Surveillance and the Interception of Communications. The preparation of the Consultation Paper was a response to the growing concern, noted in the Commission's First Programme for Examination of Certain Branches of the Law with a View to their Reform, at the lack of legal protection for privacy. The Commission adopted a classification of privacy into four categories:

The Consultation Paper published in 1996 deals with the fourth category. The protection of this general interest in specific institutional contexts (e.g. the workplace) will be considered at a later stage.

In the Consultation Paper, the Commission considers the following aspects of surveillance and the interception of communications:

The Commission provisionally recommends the creation of the following torts:

It also provisionally recommends the granting of power to a Court to make a “privacy order” to restrain persons from invading privacy or disclosing information.

The Commission also provisionally recommends that the following offenses be created:

The Commission reiterates the recommendation of the Commission in its Report on Non-Fatal Offenses Against the Person, that an offence of harassment be created.

The Commission has invited submissions on its provisional recommendations.

LAND LAW AND CONVEYANCING LAW

The Commission's Working Group on Land Law and Conveyancing Law continued to meet throughout the year. Fourteen meetings of the Working Group were held in 1996.

Among the topics considered by the Working Group in the course of the year were:

The Working Group is currently preparing a report to be entitled Land Law and Conveyancing Law: (6) Further General Proposals. It is envisaged that the General Proposals will be published in 1997.

PRIVATE INTERNATIONAL LAW

UNIDROIT Convention on the International Return of Stolen or Illegally Exported Cultural Objects

In November 1996, the Commission published, with a limited circulation, a Consultation Paper on the UNIDROIT Convention on the Return of Stolen or Illegally Exported Cultural Objects. The Consultation Paper examines the UNIDROIT Convention in the context of its implementation in Irish Law. It examines the Irish law on the restitution of stolen cultural objects and on the return of illegally exported cultural objects. It also discusses the law on the return from Ireland of objects stolen or illegally exported from another jurisdiction. The Consultation Paper provisionally recommends accession to the Convention.

OTHER TOPICS

The Interpretation and Drafting of Legislation

Work continued on an examination of the interpretation and drafting of legislation, with a view to publication in 1997.

ACTION TAKEN IN 1996 IN AREAS COVERED BY REPORTS OF THE COMMISSION

POWERS OF ATTORNEY ACT, 1996

Part II of the Powers of Attorney Act, 1996, introduces a scheme for Enduring Powers of Attorney (EPA), as recommended by the Commission in its Report on Land Law and Conveyancing Law: (2) Enduring Powers of Attorney. As recommended in that Report, the Bill provides for a non-mandatory standard-form EPA, and for a system of registration.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ACT, 1996

The Domestic Violence Act, 1996, in accordance with recommendations contained in the Commission's Report on Child Sexual Abuse, enables Health Boards to apply for a barring or protection order on behalf of a child. The Act came into effect on 27 March 1996.

PROCEEDS OF CRIME ACT, 1996

The Proceeds of Crime Act, 1996 makes provision for the freezing of assets which constitute the proceeds of crime. This is broadly in accordance with the Commission's Report on the Confiscation of the Proceeds of Crime (recommendations 4 – 10).

The Criminal Justice Act, 1994 also provided for measures to be taken against the proceeds of crime; however it did not wholly implement the recommendations of the Commission in this regard. The 1994 Act provided for the making of Confiscation Orders and Restraint Orders. An order could be made against the property of an individual where he had been convicted of an indictable or drug trafficking offence, or, in the case of a Restraint Order, where proceedings in relation to such an offence had been instituted against him, or where certain applications had been made in respect of the individual or his assets. This approach differs from that recommended by the Commission, which would have allowed for a restraint order to be made by a District Justice, where he was satisfied, on an information by a member of the Garda Siochana, that there were “reasonable grounds to suspect” that an offence had been committed.

The 1996 Act allows for more extensive powers of confiscation than those contained in the 1994 Act. Under its provisions, three types of orders may be made in respect of the proceeds of crime: an interim order, an interlocutory order and a disposal order. These orders may be made by the High Court, on an ex parte application by a member of the Garda Siochana or an officer of the Revenue Commissioners, where the Court is “satisfied” that the property constitutes, directly or indirectly, the proceeds of crime.

CRIMINAL ASSETS BUREAU ACT, 1996

Section 14 of the Criminal Assets Bureau Act, 1996 is in accordance with a number of the recommendations of the Commission's Report on the Confiscation of the Proceeds of Crime (Recommendations 1 and 2). Section 14 of the Act provides that a District Court judge may issue a search warrant where there are reasonable grounds to suspect that evidence of or relating to assets or proceeds of criminal activity is to be found on the premises. In circumstances of urgency, such a search warrant may be issued by an officer of the Criminal Assets Bureau who is a member of the Garda Siochana and is not below the rank of superintendent. The search warrant authorises a named officer of the Criminal Assets Bureau, accompanied by other bureau officers, to enter and search the premises, and to seize and retain material.

DISCLOSURE OF CERTAIN INFORMATION FOR TAXATION AND OTHER PURPOSES ACT, 1996

Section 1 of the Disclosure of Certain Information for Taxation and Other Purposes Act, 1996 provides for the disclosure of information by the Revenue Commissioners to the Gardai or relevant Government bodies, where the Revenue Commissioners have reasonable grounds to suspect that a person may have derived profits from unlawful activity, and that the information would assist an investigation, or that it is in the public interest.

Section 13 of the Act provides that the Gardai may apply for a court order to inspect and copy records from the books of financial institutions.

These provisions are in accordance with the recommendations of the Commission's Report on the Confiscation of the Proceeds of Crime. In that Report, the Commission recommended that provision should be made for the disclosure of tax information by the Revenue Commissioners, and of bank accounts and other transactions by any bank or financial institution to the prosecution authorities on production of a court order.

CONFERENCES

THE HAGUE CONFERENCE ON PRIVATE INTERNATIONAL LAW

The Eighteenth Session of the Hague Conference on Private International Law was attended by the President of the Commission in October 1996. The President attended at the Conference from 13–20 October. The Final Act of the Eighteenth Session adopted a Draft Convention on Jurisdiction, Applicable Law, Recognition, Enforcement and Co-operation in Respect of Parental Responsibility and Measures for the Protection of Children.

Commissioner Buckley attended the Special Commission meeting of the Hague Conference on Private International Law on the recognition and enforcement of foreign judgements in civil and commercial matters, from 4–7 June 1996.

Commissioner Duncan continued to act as First Vice Chairman of the Special Commission of the Hague Conference on Private International Law, which has been revising the Convention on the Protection of Minors, 1961. He was also Chairman of the Drafting Committee. The work was completed at the Hague in October 1996, with the approval, at the diplomatic session of the Eighteenth Session, of the Draft Convention on Jurisdiction, Applicable Law, Recognition, Enforcement and Co-operation in Respect of Parental Responsibility, and Measures for the Protection of Children.

APPENDIX A

MATTERS EXAMINED UNDER THE FIRST PROGRAMME FOR LAW REFORM

MATTER EXAMINED	RESULTING REPORTS*
Administrative Law	Working Paper 8–1979 – Judicial Review of Administrative Action
Animals	Report on Civil Liability for Animals (LRC 2–1982)
Conflict of Laws	Report on Domicile and Habitual Residence as Connecting Factors in the Conflict of Laws (LRC 7–1983)
	Report on the Recognition of Foreign Divorces and Legal Separations (LRC 10–1985)
	Report on the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction and some Related Matters (LRC 12–1985)
	Report on the Hague Convention on the Taking of Evidence Abroad in Civil or Commercial Matters (LRC 16–1985)
	Report on Private International Law Aspects of Capacity to Marry and Choice of Law Proceedings for Nullity of Marriage (LRC 19–1985)

Conflict of Laws (continued)	Report on Jurisdiction in Proceedings for Nullity of Marriage (LRC 20–1985)
	Report on the Service of Documents Abroad re. Civil Proceedings (LRC 22–1987)
	Report on the Recognition of Foreign Adoption Decrees (LRC 29–1989)
	Report on the Hague Convention on Succession to the Estates of Deceased Persons (LRC 36–1991)
	Report on the Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents (LRC 48–1995)
Criminal Law	Report on Vagrancy and Related Offenses (LRC 11–1985)
	Report on Offenses under the Dublin Police Acts and Related Offenses (LRC 14–1985)
	Report on Intoxication (LRC 51–1995)
Evidence	Report on the Rule against Hearsay in Civil Cases (LRC 25–1988)
	Report on the Competence and Compellability of Spouses as Witnesses (LRC 13–1985)
	Report on Oaths and Affirmations (LRC 34–1990)

Family Law	Working Paper No. 4, 1978 – The Law Relating to Breach of Promise of Marriage
	Working Paper No. 5, 1978 – The Law Relating to Criminal Conversation and the Enticement and Harbouring of a Spouse
	Working Paper No. 6, 1979 – The Law Relating to Seduction and the Enticement and Harbouring of a Child
	Working Paper No. 7, 1979 – The Law Relating to Loss of Consortium and Loss of Services of a Child
	First Report on Family Law (LRC 1–1981)
	Report on Illegitimacy (LRC 4–1982)
	Report on the Age of Majority, the Age for Marriage, and Connected Subjects (LRC 5–1983)
	Report on the Restitution of Conjugal Rights, Jactitation of Marriage and Related Matters (LRC 6–1983)
	Report on Divorce a Mensa Et Thoro and Related Matters (LRC 8–1983)
	Report on Nullity of Marriage (LRC 9–1984)
	Report on the Family Courts (LRC 52–1996)
Privacy	Consultation Paper on Privacy: Surveillance and the Interception of Communications

Sales	Working Paper No. 1–1977 – The Law Relating to the Liability of Builders, Vendors and Lessors for the Quality and Fitness of Premises
	Report on Defective Premises (LRC 3–1982)
	Report on Minors' Contracts (LRC 15–1985)
	Report on the UN (Vienna) Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods 1980 (LRC 42–1992)

APPENDIX B

MATTERS EXAMINED UNDER REFERENCE FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

MATTERS REFERRED	RESULTING REPORTS
Conveyancing Law and Practice, and where this could lead to savings for house purposes (referred 1987).	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
	Interests of Vendor and Purchaser in Land during Period between Contract and Completion (LRC 49–1995)
The Law relating to Sheriffs, the collection of taxes and debt collection (referred 1987).	Report on Debt Collection: (1) the Law Relating to Sheriffs (LRC 27–1988)
	Report on Debt Collection: (2) Retention of Title

The Law relating to compensation for personal injuries cases including in particular:	Report on the Statute of Limitations in Cases of Latent Personal Injuries (LRC 21–1987)
(1) provision for periodic payments and the making of provisional awards (referred 1987); and	Report on Personal Injuries: Periodic Payments and Structured Settlements (LRC 54–1996)
(2) the Statute of Limitations in cases of latent Personal Injury.
Aspects of Criminal Law, including:	Report on Receiving Stolen Property (LRC 23–1987)
(1) sentencing policy;	Report on Malicious Damage (LRC 26–1988)
(2) indexation of fines;
(3) confiscating the proceeds of crime; and	Report on the Confiscation of the Proceeds of Crime (LRC 35–1991)
(4) whether there is need to revise or update the law relating to the various offenses which are mainly governed by pre-1922 legislation, including, in particular, the laws relating to dishonesty, malicious damage and offenses against the person (referred 1987).	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 Offenses against the Person (LRC 45–1994)
	Report on Sentencing (LRC 53–1996)
Sexual Offenses Generally (Including in particular the law relating to rape and the sexual abuse of children) (referred 1987).	Report on Rape and Allied Offenses (LRC 24–1988)
	Report on Child Sexual Abuse (LRC 32–1990)
	Report on Sexual Offenses Against the Mentally Handicapped (LRC 33–1990)
The Law relating to Bail (referred 1994).	Report on an Examination of the Law of Bail (LRC 50–1995)

The Law of defamation and contempt of court (referred 1989).	Report on the Civil Law of Defamation (LRC 38–1991)
	Report on Contempt of Court (LRC 47–1994)
The law relating to occupier's liability (referred 1992).	Report on Occupier's Liability (LRC 46–1994)

APPENDIX C

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATIONS

(The implementing legislation listed in the chart does not necessarily implement all the recommendations of the corresponding report in full. In many cases only some of the report's recommendations have been implemented by the legislation; in others the Commission's recommendations have been implemented only in a modified form.)

REPORT	IMPLEMENTING LEGISLATION
First Report on Family Law	Family Law Act, 1981
Report on Civil Liability for Animals	Animals Act, 1985
Report on the Age of Majority, the Age for	Age of Majority Act, 1985
Marriage, and Connected Subjects	Family Law Act, 1995
Report on Illegitimacy	Status of Children Act, 1987
Report on Domicile and Habitual Residence as Connecting Factors in the Conflict of Laws	Domicile and Recognition of Foreign Divorces Act, 1986
Report on the Recognition of Foreign Divorces and Legal Separations	Domicile and Recognition of Foreign Divorces Act, 1986
Report on Divorce a Mensa et Thoro and Related Matters	Judicial Separation and Family Reform Act, 1989
Report on Restitution of Conjugal Rights, Jactitation	Family Law Act, 1988
of Marriage, and Related Matters	Family Law Act, 1995
Report on Rape and Allied Offenses	Criminal Law (Rape) (Amendment) Act, 1990
	Criminal Justice Act, 1993
Report on Vagrancy and Related Offenses	Housing Act, 1988
	Criminal Law (Sexual Offenses) Act, 1993
	Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act, 1994

Report on Receiving Stolen Property	Larceny Act, 1990
	Criminal Justice Act, 1993
Report on Personal Injuries	Statute of Limitations (Amendment) Act, 1991
Report on Malicious Damage	Criminal Damage Act, 1991
	Criminal Justice Act, 1993
Report on the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction and Some Related Matters	Child Abduction and Enforcement of Custody Orders Act, 1991
Report on the Recognition of Foreign Adoption Decrees	Adoption Act, 1991
Report on Child Sexual Abuse	Child Care Act, 1991
	Criminal Evidence Act, 1992
	Criminal Law (Sexual Offenses) Act, 1993
Report on Receiving Stolen Property	Criminal Evidence Act, 1992
	Criminal Justice (No. 3) Act, 1994
Report on the Competence and Compellability of Witnesses	Criminal Evidence Act, 1992
Report on Sexual Offenses Against the Mentally Handicapped	Criminal Law (Sexual Offenses) Act, 1993
Report on Offenses Under the Dublin Police Acts and Related Offenses	Criminal Justice (Public Order Act), 1994
Report on the Confiscation of the Proceeds of Crime	Criminal Justice (No. 3) Act, 1994
Report on Occupier's Liability	Occupier's Liability Act, 1995
Report on Jurisdiction in Proceedings for Nullity of Marriage, Recognition of Foreign Nullity Decrees and the hague Convention on the Celebration and Recognition of the Validity of Marriages	Family Law Act, 1995

Report on Land Law and Conveyancing Law: (1) General Proposals	Landlord and Tenant (Amendment) Act, 1994
	Family Law Act, 1995
Report on Land Law and Conveyancing: (2) Enduring Powers of Attorney	Powers of Attorney Act, 1996
Report on Child Sexual Abuse	Domestic Violence Act, 1996

THE LAW REFORM COMMISSION

Ardilaun Centre

111 St Stephen's Green

Dublin 2

Telephone: 671 5699

Fax No.: 671 5316

LIST OF LAW REFORM COMMISSION'S PUBLICATIONS

First Programme for Examination of Certain Branches of the Law with a View to their Reform (December 1976) (Prl. 5984) [out of print] [10p Net]

Working Paper No. 1-1977, The Law Relating to the Liability of Builders, Vendors and Lessors for the Quality and Fitness of Premises (June 1977) [£1.50 Net]

Working Paper No. 2-1977, The Law Relating to the Age of Majority, the Age for Marriage and Some Connected Subjects (November 1977) [£1.00 Net]

Working Paper No. 3-1977, Civil Liability for Animals (November 1977) [£2.50 Net]

First (Annual) Report (1977) (Prl. 6961) [40p Net]

Working Paper No. 4-1978, The Law Relating to Breach of Promise of Marriage (November 1978) [£1.00 Net]

Working Paper No. 5-1978, The Law Relating to Criminal Conversation and the Enticement and Harbouring of a Spouse (December 1978) [£1.00 Net]

Working Paper No. 6-1979, The Law Relating to Seduction and the Enticement and Harbouring of a Child (February 1979) [£1.50 Net]

Working Paper No. 7-1979, The Law Relating to Loss of Consortium and Loss of Services of a Child (March 1979) [£1.00 Net]

Working Paper No. 8-1979, Judicial Review of Administrative Action: the Problem of Remedies (December 1979) [£1.50 Net]

Second (Annual) Report (1978/79) (Prl. 8855) [75p Net]

Working Paper No. 9-1980, The Rule Against Hearsay (April 1980) [£2.00 Net]

Third (Annual) Report (1980) (Prl. 9733) [75p Net]

First Report on Family Law – Criminal Conversation, Enticement and Harbouring of a Spouse or Child, Loss of Consortium, Personal Injury to a Child, Seduction of a Child, Matrimonial Property and Breach of Promise of Marriage (LRC 1-1981) (March 1981) [£2.00 Net]

Working Paper No. 10-1981, Domicile and Habitual Residence as Connecting Factors in the Conflict of Laws (September 1981) [£1.75 Net]

Fourth (Annual) Report (1981) (Pl. 742) [75p Net]

Report on Civil Liability for Animals (LRC 2-1982) (May 1982) [£1.00 Net]

Report on Defective Premises (LRC 3-1982) (May 1982) [£1.00 Net]

Report on Illegitimacy (LRC 4–1982) (September 1982) [£ 3.50 Net]

Fifth (Annual) Report (1982) (Pl. 1795) [ 75p Net]

Report on the Age of Majority, the Age for Marriage and Some Connected Subjects (LRC 5–1983) (April 1983) [ £1.50 Net]

Report on Restitution of Conjugal Rights, Jactitation of Marriage and Related Matters (LRC 6–1983) (November 1983) [£ 1.00 Net]

Report on Domicile and Habitual Residence as Connecting Factors in the Conflict of Laws (LRC 7–1983) (December 1983) [£ 1.50 Net]

Report on Divorce a Mensa et Thoro and Related Matters (LRC 8–1983) (December 1983) [£ 3.00 Net]

Sixth (Annual) Report (1983) (Pl. 2622) [£ 1.00 Net]

Report on Nullity of Marriage (LRC 9–1984) (October 1984) [£ 3.50 Net]

Working Paper No. 11–1984, Recognition of Foreign Divorces and Legal Separations (October 1984) [£ 2.00 Net]

Seventh (Annual) Report (1984) (Pl. 3313) [£ 1.00 Net]

Report on Recognition of Foreign Divorces and Legal Separations (LRC 10–1985) (April 1985) [£ 1.00 Net]

Report on Vagrancy and Related Offenses (LRC 11–1985) (June 1985) [£ 3.00 Net]

Report on the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction and Some Related Matters (LRC 12–1985) (June 1985) [£ 2.00 Net]

Report on Competence and Compellability of Spouses as Witnesses (LRC 13–1985) (July 1985) [£ 2.50 Net]

Report on Offenses Under the Dublin Police Acts and Related Offenses (LRC 14–1985) (July 1985) [£ 2.50 Net]

Report on Minors' Contracts (LRC 15–1985) (August 1985) [£ 3.50 Net]

Report on the Hague Convention on the Taking of Evidence Abroad in Civil or Commercial Matters (LRC 16–1985) (August 1985) [£ 2.00 Net]

Report on the Liability in Tort of Minors and the Liability of Parents for Damage Caused by Minors (LRC 17–1985) (September 1985) [£ 3.00 Net]

Report on the Liability in Tort of Mentally Disabled Persons (LRC 18–1985) (September 1985) [£ 2.00 Net]

Report on Private International Law Aspects of Capacity to Marry and Choice of Law in Proceedings for Nullity of Marriage (LRC 19–1985) (October 1985) [£ 3.50 Net]

Report on Jurisdiction in Proceedings for Nullity of Marriage, Recognition of Foreign Nullity Decrees, and the Hague Convention on the Celebration and Recognition of the Validity of Marriages (LRC 20–1985) (October 1985) [£ 2.00 Net]

Eighth (Annual) Report (1985) (Pl. 4281) [£ 1.00 Net]

Report on the Statute of Limitations: Claims in Respect of Latent Personal Injuries (LRC 21–1987) (September 1987) [£ 4.50 Net]

Consultation Paper on Rape (December 1987) [£ 6.00 Net]

Report on the Service of Documents Abroad re Civil Proceedings – the Hague Convention (LRC 22–1987) (December 1987) [£ 2.00 Net]

Report on Receiving Stolen Property (LRC 23–1987) (December 1987) [£ 7.00 Net]

Ninth (Annual) Report (1986–1987) (Pl. 5625) [£ 1.50 Net]

Report on Rape and Allied Offenses (LRC 24–1988) (May 1988) [£ 3.00 Net]

Report on the Rule Against Hearsay in Civil Cases (LRC 25–1988) (September 1988) [£ 3.00 Net]

Report on Malicious Damage (LRC 26–1988) (September 1988) [£ 4.00 Net]

Report on Debt Collection: (1) The Law Relating to Sheriffs (LRC 27–1988) (October 1988) [£ 5.00 Net]

Tenth (Annual) Report (1988) (Pl. 6542) [£ 1.50 Net]

Report on Debt Collection: (2) Retention of Title (LRC 28–1988) (April 1989) [£ 4.00 Net]

Report on the Recognition of Foreign Adoption Decrees (LRC 29–1989) (June 1989) [£ 5.00 Net]

Report on Land Law and Conveyancing Law: (1) General Proposals (LRC 30–1989) (June 1989) [£ 5.00 Net]

Consultation Paper on Child Sexual Abuse (August 1989) [£10.00 Net]

Report on Land Law and Conveyancing Law: (2) Enduring Powers of Attorney (LRC 31–1989) (October 1989) [£ 4.00 Net]

Eleventh (Annual) Report (1989) (Pl. 7448) [£ 1.50 Net]

Report on Child Sexual Abuse (LRC 32–1990) (September 1990) [out of print] [£ 7.00 Net]

Report on Sexual Offenses against the Mentally Handicapped (LRC 33–1990) (September 1990) [£ 4.00 Net]

Report on Oaths and Affirmations (LRC 34–1990) (December 1990) [£ 5.00 Net]

Report on Confiscation of the Proceeds of Crime (LRC 35–1991) (January 1991) [£ 6.00 Net]

Consultation Paper on the Civil Law of Defamation (March 1991) [£20.00 Net]

Report on the Hague Convention on Succession to the Estates of Deceased Persons (LRC 36–1991) (May 1991) [£ 7.00 Net]

Twelfth (Annual) Report (1990) (Pl. 8292) [£ 1.50 Net]

Consultation Paper on Contempt of Court (July 1991) [£20.00 Net]

Consultation Paper on the Crime of Libel (August 1991) [£11.00 Net]

Report on The Indexation of Fines (LRC 37-1991) (October 1991) [£ 6.50 Net]

Report on the Civil Law of Defamation (LRC 38-1991) (December 1991) [£ 7.00 Net]

Report on Land Law and Conveyancing Law: (3) The Passing of Risk from Vendor to Purchaser (LRC 39-1991) (December 1991); (4) Service of Completion Notices (LRC 40-1991) (December 1991) [£ 6.00 Net]

Report on the Crime of Libel (LRC 41-1991) (December 1991) [£ 4.00 Net]

Report on United Nations (Vienna) Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods 1980 (LRC 42-1992) (May 1992) [£ 8.00 Net]

Thirteenth (Annual) Report (1991) (PI. 9214) [£ 2.00 Net]

Report on The Law Relating to Dishonesty (LRC 43-1992) (September 1992) [£20.00 Net]

Land Law and Conveyancing Law: (5) Further General Proposals (LRC 44-1992) (October 1992) [out of print] [£ 6.00 Net]

Consultation Paper on Sentencing (March 1993) [£20.00 Net]

Consultation Paper on Occupiers' Liability (June 1993) [out of print] [£10.00 Net]

Fourteenth (Annual) Report (1992) (PN. 0051) [£ 2.00 Net]

Report on Non-Fatal Offenses Against The Person (LRC 45-1994) (February 1994) [£20.00 Net]

Consultation Paper on Family Courts (March 1994) [£10.00 Net]

Report on Occupiers' Liability (LRC 46-1994) (April 1994) [£ 6.00 Net]

Report on Contempt of Court (LRC 47-1994) (September 1994) [£10.00 Net]

Fifteenth (Annual) Report (1993) (PN. 1122) [£ 2.00 Net]

Report on the Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents (LRC 48-1995) (February 1995) [£10.00 Net]

Consultation Paper on Intoxication as a Defence to a Criminal Offence (February 1995) [£10.00 Net]

Report on Interests of Vendor and Purchaser in Land during the period between Contract and Completion (LRC 49-1995) (April 1995) [£ 8.00 Net]

Sixteenth (Annual) Report (1994) (PN. 1919) [£ 2.00 Net]

An Examination of the Law of Bail (LRC 50-1995) (August 1995) [£10.00 Net]

Report on Intoxication (LRC 51-1995) (November 1995) [£ 2.00 Net]

Report on Family Courts (LRC 52-1996) (March 1996) [£10.00 Net]

Seventeenth (Annual) Report (1995) (PN. 2960) [£ 2.50 Net]

Report on Sentencing (LRC 53-1996) (August 1996) [£ 8.00 Net]

Consultation Paper on Privacy: Surveillance and the Interception of Communications (September 1996) [£20.00 Net]

Report on Personal Injuries (LRC 54-1996) (December 1996) [£10.00 Net]