A&L Goodbody

Lobbying Organisation A&L Goodbody

Date published 19 Jan, 2024

Relevant Matter Legislation

Public Policy Area Justice and Equality

Period 1 Sep, 2023 to 31 Dec, 2023

Specific Details Seeking to 1) raise awareness of continued legal industry concerns with Section 32 (Execution in Counterparts) of the Civil Law and Criminal Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2020 (as amended); 2) explain the nature and extent of those concerns; 3) delay Section's commencement immediately and indefinitely; and 4) have the section repealed or amended (in consultation with the legal industry) to address the concerns raised.

Intended results To ultimately avoid Section 32 (as amended) coming into effect in its current form and causing concern and uncertainty for execution of documents and deeds in counterpart (past, present and future) in Ireland / under Irish law.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Elizabeth White, Knowledge Consultant, Finance, A&L Goodbody LLP (Note: one of nine law firm member signatories to letter submitted by Ms Maedhbh Clancy, Of Counsel, Finance, Arthur Cox LLP on behalf of the forum)

Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?) No

Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign? No

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Letter (1)

The group raised concerns in relation to (and suggested the repeal of) Section 32 (Execution in Counterparts) of the Civil Law and Criminal Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2020 (as amended). The lobbying took the form of a letter dated 22 September 2023 (jointly submitted on behalf of nine law firms including A&L Goodbody LLP).

Designated public officials lobbied

The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them. As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.

Andrew Munro Assistant Secretary (Department of Justice)