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Legislation to enhance and update the legal framework for adoption will be introduced to the Northern Ireland Assembly after the summer recess. The Adoption and Children Bill aims to remove unnecessary delay and uncertainty for children by bringing Northern Ireland in line with the changes made in t

Forensic Science Ireland (FSI) has reported that it has made significant progress with the construction of its new laboratory, which is due to open in summer 2022. Minister for justice, Heather Humphreys, with director of FSI, Chris Enright, at the FSI’s new labs in Backweston, Dublin

The post-Brexit UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) risks damaging trust between the UK and devolved administrations, according to a think tank. In a new report, the Institute for Government said that the UKSPF, which will replace EU ‘structural funds' and will be launched in April 2022, could a

Criminologist Phil Scraton, professor emeritus at Queen's University Belfast School of Law, has joined a distinguished team of patrons of Include Youth, a rights-based charity working with young people. The team of six patrons, which include some of Northern Ireland's top athletes, will work closely

Nearly half of state boards are falling short of a government target to have women making up at least 40 per cent of their membership. Public Expenditure and Reform Minister Michael McGrath updated ministers this week on progress to strengthen gender diversity on state boards across the Irish public

The latest edition of Folio, the conveyancing and land law journal from the Law Society of Northern Ireland, has been published. The first volume of 2021 includes pieces on drafting leases, the regulation of housing associations and issues affecting the agricultural property sector.

The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has ruled that the pre-trial detention of a man suspected of belonging to a terrorist organisation in Turkey was a violation of his human rights under Article 5 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). Tekin Akgün was suspected of b

The High Court has dismissed a personal injuries action in a trip-and-fall case on the basis that the plaintiff failed to look where he was walking at the time of the accident. The court applied cases such as Lavin v. Dublin Airport Authority [2016] IECA 268 and stated that the accident would not ha

The Central Bank has proposed a ban on the practice of "price walking" in the private car and home insurance sectors. The current practice is seen as a loyalty penalty for customers who do not regularly switch their insurance provider.

Global legal business DWF is continuing its partnership with Dublin City University (DCU) to help transform the lives of young people who may believe a third level education is beyond their reach. The Dublin office of DWF is sponsoring the university’s Access Programme, a €20,000 four-yea

A solicitor in Sligo has criticised the High Court president's recent call for additional judges and suggested extended court hearing times instead. Damien Tansey SC, one of the first solicitors to be made a senior counsel, has called for the abolition of the two-month summer vacation and for court

The Oireachtas justice committee has recommended the establishment of a special committee to examine the law on assisted dying. The committee has published a report on the Dying with Dignity Bill 2020, which seeks to allow for the provision of assisted dying to qualifying persons with the aim of all

A county sheriff in Co Monaghan has brought a High Court challenge against legislation requiring him to retire when he turns 70 next May. Castleblayney-based sheriff Seamus Mallon, who is a qualified solicitor, was appointed as a sheriff under the Courts Officers Act 1945 in 1987.

Northern Ireland's Department of Health has been directed to commission and make abortion services available as soon as possible and no later than 31 March 2022. Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis yesterday issued the direction using his powers under the Abortion (Northern Ireland) Regulations

Court fees and excise duties for vintners will be waived for a second consecutive year, the government has announced. The waiver for 2021 will include court fees, excise and stamp duty relating to the renewal of specified pubs and other liquor licenses, estimated to be worth around €10 million.