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Programmes of Law Reform

Publication of Second Programme of law reform

On the 9 August 2010 the Commission published a consultation paper in respect of proposals for its Second Programme of Law Reform. The Commission was pleased to receive 26 responses from a variety of sources including individuals, law firms, public bodies and the voluntary sector. In all, 14 new law reform proposals were submitted for consideration by the Commission - as several respondents had made submissions in respect of the same area.

All proposals received for inclusion in the Law Commission’s Second Programme of Law Reform have been fully and carefully considered. This exercise has involved the application of the Commission’s project selection criteria. Having performed this exercise, the Commission has formed certain views about the contents of the Second Programme. These views can only be provisional since, under the statutory arrangements, the decision maker is the Department of Justice and not the Commission.

Against this background, the Commission communicated with the Department of Justice in appropriate terms in June 2011. The Commission has been informed by the Department that its process remains incomplete. The contents of the Second Programme of Law Reform will be determined by the outcome of this process.

The Bail law and Multi unit development law projects from the First Programme will continue into the Second Programme.

The Commission's First Programme of Law Reform was approved by the Secretary of State on 17th October 2009 and laid before the Houses of Parliament and the Northern Ireland Assembly under section 52(2) and 52(3) of The Justice (Northern Ireland) Act 2002. The First Programme of law reform ran from 1 June 2009 to 31 March 2011.