Law Reform in Northern Ireland: Cheshire Cat or Potemkin Commission?

Abstract

In this article, the authors analyse the law reform machinery of Northern Ireland. The Northern Ireland Law Commission was established in 2008 and, in early 2015, its funding was withdrawn. The reasons for the late arrival, and relative lack of success, of independent law reform in Northern Ireland are detailed in this article. The subject matter is of interest to those interested in law reform throughout the United Kingdom for reasons which are advanced in the article. Lessons may also be learned by other small jurisdictions seeking to establish or operate law reform bodies.