Role of the Committee

The Family & Child Law Committee is conscious of the rapid expansion in the area of family law, especially since the introduction of divorce in this jurisdiction. The committee endeavours to keep abreast of legislative changes and where possible to make submissions in relation to forthcoming bills and EU directives, the latter of which have a very real impact on the practice of family law. It also has responsibility for civil legal aid.

The main objective of the Committee is:

1. To organises seminars which are of particular interest to Family Law Practitioners and invites distinguished speakers from other jurisdictions to participate.

Submissions from practitioners in private practice are welcomed.

Members and Secretary

Chair: Siún Hurley

Vice-Chair: Eamonn Carroll

Members

• Ailbhe Burke
• Helen Coughlan
• Brendan Dillon
• Elizaveta Donnery
• Peter Doyle
• Sinéad Kearney SC
• Niamh Kennedy
• Denise Kirwan
• Jackie Lacey
• Avril Mangan
• Maria McCahill
• Donagh McGowan
• Josepha Madigan
• Michele O’Boyle SC
• Martina Ryan
• Orlagh Sharkey
• Annette Sheehan
• Edel Traynor
• Keith Walsh SC
• Canice Walsh

Consultants

• Rosemary Horgan
• Joan O’Mahony
• Geoffrey Shannon SC

Secretary: Judith Tedders

Current issues

Current issues on the Committee's agenda include:

1. The Family Law Committee endeavours to monitor and consider all relevant developments in family law. In addition to significant developments such as the recent civil partnership and cohabitation legislation, the committee focuses on issues that may be of concern to the profession at large, on an ongoing basis.
2. The committee has been actively considering the operation of the Circuit Court Case Progression Rules since their introduction. As part of our work, we would very much appreciate if colleagues could let us have their comments, opinions and experiences on how these rules are operating in practice.
3. We wish to hear from colleagues in the different circuits about their experiences, including how different county registrars operate the rules. This information can then be fed back to the county registrars and Courts Service, with a view to seeing how the operation of the rules may be refined or improved, as required.
4. Over the course of the year, the committee will be looking at a range of other issues and we will, in future editions of the Gazette, be inviting practitioners to provide their own experiences, comments and reform proposals on those issues.

Contact Us

Please email any queries to the Committee Secretary, Judith Tedders.