Re-forming Law Reform: Functions, Processes, and Mechanisms - 18 September 2025

By GavinWalsh, Thursday, 24th July 2025 | 0 comments
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Re-forming Law Reform: Functions, Processes, and Mechanisms 

Trinity Long Room Hub 

18 September 2025 

Programme 

To mark its 50th Anniversary, the Law Reform Commission of Ireland is partnering with the Trinity Centre for Constitutional Governance (TriCON) to host an academic conference on the history and future of law reform. The conference will take place in Trinity College Dublin on the afternoon of Thursday 18 September, the day before a related conference in Dublin Castle organised by the Law Reform Commission itself, Half a Century of Change: The Journey of Law Reform 

In a politically polarised world, the challenge of law reform is greater than ever. How can appropriate subjects for law reform be identified? What form of democratic processes are required to legitimise law reform? What roles do and should stakeholders and lobby groups play in the process of law reform? How can political support be built for urgently needed law reform? The papers selected for this conference address these and other questions. 

 

12.30-1.30

Registration and light lunch

1.30-1.45pm

Welcome and opening remarks

1.45-3.05pm

Session 1

Legal Change outside Law Reform Institutions

Nevi Agapiou, Functional Law Reform: The Distinctive Case of Cyprus

Alan Eustace and Michael Doherty, The Many About-Faces of Labour Law Reform in Ireland

James Rooney, Multi-Party Litigation and the Limits of Law Reform in Ireland

Jennifer Schweppe, Amanda Haynes and Luke Danagher, The Criminal Justice (Hate Offences) Act 2024: A Scottish Act ‘emblazoned with the harp’? 

3.05-3.25pm

Coffee

3.25-4.45pm

Session 2

Law Reform Institutions

 

Adam Elebert, The Role and Value of Law Reform Institutions in Constitutional Referendums

 

Stephen Marren, From Disarray to Order: The Role of Codification and Law Reform Bodies

 

David Plater and Emily Conroy, A Win-Win Situation? A South Australian Perspective on the Mutual Benefits of Collaboration between Law Students and Law Reform Bodies

 

Mark Coen, The False Promise of ‘Law Reform’: The Law on Juries as a Case Study

4.45-5.05pm

Coffee

5.05-6.25pm

Session 3

Law Reform: Past, Present, and Future

 

Alice Diver, Law reform [as redress] for Survivors/Victims of Mother-Baby Institutions in Northern Ireland: Public Consultation as a perpetuation of unseen partialities?

 

Niamh Howlin, Law Reform before the Law Reform Commission

 

Michael McGrath, The Introduction of Land Registration

 

Suzanne Scott, The Power of Stories to Influence Law Reform

6.26-6.35pm

Closing remarks

 

More information on this event is available here.