Rule Of Law

Chief Justice Donal O'Donnell this morning opened a second two-day conference on access to justice, this time focusing on civil legal aid. We reproduce below the bulk of his opening address. Civil legal aid might indeed have been an obvious focus of the first conference of the Access to Justice Grou

The rule of law in Ireland has regressed in a number of areas, including systemic human rights issues, according to a new report. The Liberties Rule Of Law Report 2023 assesses the state of justice, corruption, media freedom, checks and balances, civic space and systemic human rights issues in 2022,

Judges have a duty to speak out when the rule of law is under threat at a national or international level, according to new guidelines from the Council of Europe’s Consultative Council of European Judges (CCJE). The CCJE was asked by the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers to prepare an

Hungary is set to lose billions of euros of EU funding in connection with breaches of the principles of the rule of law under proposals from the European Commission. Around €7.5 billion could be withheld pending Hungary's implementation of remedial measures agreed after months of talks between

Irish lawyers are acting on behalf of European judges who are suing the Council of the European Union over a decision to release funds to Poland despite continued concerns over the rule of law. The lawsuit has been filed in the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) by the Association of Euro

The rule of law in Hungary is under serious threat as Viktor Orbán’s government constantly abuses its authority to influence the courts, a senior judge has said. Csaba Vasvári, a senior judge at the Budapest metropolitan court, told The Observer that he and other members of the j

Hungary and Poland have failed in legal challenges to EU rules that allow for funds to be withheld from member states that fail to protect the rule of law. The rule of law conditionality regulation provides that the European Council may, at the request of the European Commission, adopt measures in r

Hungary and Poland have been dealt a blow in their legal challenge to EU rules cutting funding for member states that fail to protect the rule of law after an advocate-general sided with the European Parliament and Council. The two member states had brought actions before the Court of Justice of the

Poland is at loggerheads with the EU again as the rule of law dispute between Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and the bloc deepens. At the European Parliament, Mr Morawiecki clashed with European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, accusing the EU of blackmail. The incident follows the ruling o

Polish human rights chief Adam Bodnar has been ordered to leave his post by the country's top court. Mr Bodnar, widely regarded as a nuisance to Poland's authoritarian ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party, was appointed as Commissioner for Human Rights with the support of opposition parties in 2015.

The UK could be following Hungary and Poland in "backsliding" on the rule of law, an academic expert on European legal issues has warned. Professor Laurent Pech, who has been studying rule of law issues since beginning his career as a junior lawyer in war-torn Bosnia two decades ago, said it is "dif

The European Commission has published its first EU-wide report on the rule of law, which includes input from every member state and covers both positive and negative developments across the EU. The report shows that many member states have high rule of law standards, but highlights important challen

The Home Office has been roundly condemned by lawyers across the UK for attacking the integrity of the legal profession and undermining the rule of law after releasing a video accusing "activist lawyers" of delaying deportations. The video, which was posted on the Home Office's Twitter page but late

A TD who singled out a High Court judge for criticism after a high-profile employment law ruling is facing an investigation from a Dáil committee. Bríd Smith, People Before Profit TD for Dublin South-Central, sharply criticised Mr Justice Garrett Simons in the Dáil and in posts

Ireland's judiciary and legal professions have rallied in defence of a High Court judge who was singled out for criticism by a TD after striking down a law setting minimum pay and conditions for workers in certain sectors. Bríd Smith, People Before Profit TD for Dublin South-Central, sharply