Joint North South Council Meeting

A delegation from The Bar of Northern Ireland travelled to Dublin for the seventh annual Joint North South Bar Meeting, hosted by the Bar of Ireland. A key focus of today’s meeting will be the impact of Brexit on the legal and justice sectors in each jurisdiction as clarification is still awaited on various legal issues that arise including the movement of people, goods and services following the UK’s departure from the European Union.

Speaking ahead of the meeting Chairman Micheál P O’Higgins SC said “Council of The Bar of Ireland is delighted to welcome our colleagues from the Bar of Northern Ireland for this most important annual event which provides a unique opportunity for practitioners to discuss areas of mutual concern, particularly the uncertainty surrounding the implications of Brexit”. “Currently both jurisdictions enjoy a significant level of cooperation in bilateral legal arrangements with the UK which may be impacted post Brexit and we welcome the opportunity to discuss this and other important matters with our colleagues from Northern Ireland” he said.

Chair of the Bar of Northern Ireland, Sarah Ramsey BL said: ” The annual joint meeting of The Bar of Ireland and Bar Of Northern Ireland has for several years been a valuable opportunity to share common policy and strategic issues, develop joint best practice and to further cement the close historical bonds between the Bars on this island. Our Bars are determined to ensure that these bonds and close working relationships are strengthened in the face of Brexit uncertainty. As a tangible example of this shared purpose we were delighted to have recently facilitated a special call ceremony that enabled unprecedented numbers of our respective Bars to be called to practice in each
jurisdiction.”

In addition to Brexit, other issues to be discussed at the meeting include the prosecution of sex crimes in each jurisdiction, and reform of the Family Law system.