What are the laws of Ireland?

Answer 1

The Irish Poor Laws were specific laws created by Parliament to address the widespread poverty in Ireland. The funding was mainly used to erect workhouses and provide for foundling care. During this time, huge numbers of immigrants left Ireland and came to the United States to find work.

Answer 2

Irish laws can arise from a number of sources.

Modern Irish law has, as its starting point, the constitution of 1937 (known as Bunréacht na hÉireann in Irish). The Free State Constitution of 1922 was replaced by this constitution, and though the two documents are similar in many ways, the 1937 constitution is the supreme form of Irish law.

Aside from establishing matters such as fundamental rights and electoral law, the constitution itself outlines the method by which laws may be enacted. Article 15 of the constitution establishes the legislative power and process. There is a bicameral legislature: the upper house is the Seanad and the lower house is the Dáil. The members of the cabinet also sit as members of the Dáil. Collectively, these houses are referred to as The Oireachtas.

Bills are formulated and composed by committees and introduced as either private or public members bills. They are voted on by the Oireachtas and, if passed, become Acts. These acts become law once they are signed by the president. If the president has doubts about the act's constitutionality, s/he may refer to the bill to the Supreme Court under Article 26 of the constitution. If this happens, the bill only becomes law once the Supreme Court approves.

Ireland was, for centuries, a colony of Britain. Thus, in common with most former British colonies, operates a common law system. This means that many Irish laws have developed from the tradition, customs and precedent inherited from English law. Many Irish rights and customs exist by virtue of such traditions, particularly the rights of due process and fair procedures (though these are protected, in a general fashion, by article 38.1 of the Irish Constitution).

It is worth noting that article 50 of the constitution states that, where a provision of common law (or indeed any form of law) which was in force at the time of the constitution's adoption is found to be inconsistent with another part of the constitution, the High Court of the Supreme Court can strike it down. This has been done in cases such as Byrne v Ireland.

For more detailed information on the legal and constitutional matters, see the Irish Constitution (available at http://www.taoiseach.gov.ie/upload/static/256.htm) and JM Kelly's The Irish Constitution (4th Ed, Tottel Publishing, 2003). For more information on the intricacies of how the law is made, see Byrne & McCutcheon The Irish Legal System (5th ed., Bloomsbury Professional 2009).

Answer 3

Ireland is a common law district, The main source of law in Ireland is the Bunreacht na hÉireann (the Irish Constitution), which was created in 1937.