Richard Kelly, Chair, and Deirdre Flynn, Secretary

During 2025, the EU and International Affairs Committee continued to represent the Law Society across Europe and internationally through strategic engagement with peer organisations. These relationships supported the exchange of insight on legal and regulatory developments affecting the profession and helped strengthen the Law Society’s international profile.

The committee maintained strong engagement with European representative bodies, including ongoing participation in the work of the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe, alongside other international organisations, such as the International Bar Association, the GermanIrish Lawyers’ and Business Association, the International Union of Notaries, the European Bars Federation, and the European Law Institute. The committee also continued its regular roundtable discussions with Brussels-based bar-association representatives, including a meeting held in Brussels in February 2025.

We contributed to policy development at national level, including submissions to the Law Society’s prebudget process and to a Department of Foreign Affairs consultation on Ireland’s future EU presidency. In parallel, it engaged in early-stage planning for that presidency. A subcommittee was established to assist in organising Law Society events to take place in September 2026 in connection with Ireland’s EU Council Presidency.

International outreach remained a core focus during the year. The committee hosted a delegation of Ukrainian judges in November 2025, which was chaired by Duncan Grehan (vice-chair), facilitating engagement with Law Society members, including an address by President Rosemarie Loftus. We also responded to an approach from the Bar Association of Sri Lanka to explore potential collaboration. In addition, members hosted a delegation from the California Lawyers’ Association, strengthening existing links through a focused programme of meetings and discussions on potential lawyer exchanges..

The committee also continued its collaboration with the Paris Bar by promoting its two-month Stage programme, which enables an Irish solicitor to undertake formal education in French law and gain practical experience in a Parisian law firm..

We continued to support professional development and knowledge-sharing initiatives. During the year, we hosted a webinar for lawyer-linguists with a panel that included our vice-chair Duncan Grehan and featured the Minister for European Affairs, Thomas Byrne, who addressed evolving roles within EU institutions. The committee maintained its commitment to social and charitable initiatives, organising a Ukrainefocused table quiz in November 2025, which raised €1,100, with members also contributing prizes. We also participated in the Working Group on the Implementation of the eEvidence Regulation, alongside colleagues from the Technology and Criminal Law Committees.

Committee members also contributed to thought leadership through articles published in the Gazette addressing developments in EU and international law, including pieces on product liability law and the Irish Centre for European Law. I wish to express my sincere thanks to all committee members for their continued commitment and engagement, and to our secretary Deirdre Flynn for her support throughout the year.