The Law Reform Commission recently participated on the Fifth Court podcast to commemorate 50 years since its establishment, to discuss its current work and the plans to celebrate its 50 year anniversary throughout 2025. The Fifth Court podcast is hosted by Mark Tottenham BL and Peter Leonard BL who discuss legal news and case insights, in addition to welcoming guests from the legal sector.
The LRC’s Director of Research, Siobhán Ní Chúlacháin, explained the Commission’s purpose and why there was a need for an independent body to review the law in 1975 and why that need still exists. She also talked about the early years of the Commission and its many achievements throughout the years. Siobhán spoke about the role of the Commission with regard to accessibility to legislation. In particular, she talked about the compilation of Revised Acts and the work being carried out as part of the Statute Law Revision Programme.
Legal researcher Caoilin Young discussed the Commission’s research process and the stages of a law reform project, in context of the projects currently on the Commission’s agenda - Reform of Non-Court Adjudicative Bodies and Appeals to Court, which is at consultation stage, and Compensating Victims of Crime and Third Party Litigation Funding, which are both at report stage. She also discussed the implementation rate of the Commission’s work, with reference to the recent report on the Regulatory Framework for Adult Safeguarding, and the various ways in which recommendations from the Commission’s reports may become law.
They also highlighted the Commission’s Annual Conference which will take place on September 19th, Half a Century of Change: The Journey of Law Reform. This conference will bring together law reform bodies from other jurisdictions, as well as academics and practitioners, to have a fruitful discussion on the past, present and future of law reform in Ireland.
As is tradition on the Fifth Court Podcast, Siobhán and Caoilin were asked to give a cultural recommendation with a legal theme - Siobhán recommended the movie The Motorcycle Diaries and Caoilin recommended the book, Unlawful Killings by Wendy Joseph, KC.
To listen to this podcast in full, please click here.