Law of Ireland - Definition and Overview

The Republic of Ireland has a common law legal system with four main sources of law:

• Constitution of Ireland (Bunreacht na hÉireann)
• Legislation
  • Primary Legislation - Acts of the Oireachtas
  • Secondary Legislation - Statutory Instrument
• Case law
• European Community Law

Historical

The state became independent in 1922 as the Irish Free State, its constitution the Irish Free State Constitution, carried all previous British, English and Irish law forward into law. In 1937 the state proclaimed a new constitution, the Constitution of Ireland, and renamed the state as Éire now generally known as the Republic of Ireland. All previous law was also carried forward at this time.

Irish Statute Book

The Irish Statute Book in its broadest sense is the total of all laws which are applicable the Republic of Ireland at this time, these include all British, English and Irish laws made over the centuries. All primary and secondary legislation enacted since 1922 have been made available for free access to all via the internet by the Office of the Attorney-General of Ireland.

See also

• Irish topics
  • Courts of Ireland
    • Supreme Court
• Northern Ireland

External links

Government

• Irish Statute Book - main site (http://www.irishstatutebook.ie)
• Acts of the Oireachtas - Irish & English (http://acts.oireachtas.ie/index.html)
• Office of the Attorney General of Ireland (http://www.www.attorneygeneral.ie)

Other

• Irish Law Site at UCC (http://www.irishlaw.org)
• LLRX.com - Guide to Irish Law (http://www.llrx.com/features/irish.htm)