Families, Fathers & Friends advocates for law reform on fathers' rights
The Law Reform Commission is an independent body established under the Law Reform Commission Act 1975. Its purpose is to make recommendations for law reform so that the law reflects the changing needs of Irish society.
Since it was established, the Commission has published over 150 documents (Consultation Papers and Reports) containing proposals for law reform. 70% of these proposals have resulted in reforming legislation.
The Commission is currently working on its Third Programme of Law Reform 2008-2014 which was prepared after extensive public consultation in 2007. The subjects currently being considered by the Commission include debt management and debt enforcement, the duties and rights of fathers, grandparents and the extended family, children and the law, professional home carers and alternatives to litigation to resolve disputes. See more information about our current projects.
The Commission is also committed to ensuring greater accessibility to our laws. This includes preparing administrative consolidations of Acts, called Restatements, making it easier to see the up-to-date text of the law. The Commission is also responsible for updating the Legislation Directory, a searchable guide to amendments made to Acts.
The Law Reform Commission issued its landmark consultation paper in 2009 proposing increased parental rights and responsibilities for fathers and grandparents.
We hope it will lead to long-overdue policy and legislative reform, which strikes a balance between the rights of fathers and mothers, in the interests of the child.
You can read the full text of the consultation paper, ‘Legal Aspects of Family Relationships’, published in September 2009, by following this link.