Editorial
| Author | Elizabeth Wall |
| Pages | 5-7 |
EDITORIAL
In
this
eighth
volume
of
the
Trinity
College
Law
Review,
at
first glance
what
the
readers will
find
striking
is
the diversity
of
views and
the
wide
range
of
areas
of
interest about
which
the
authors
possess
the
passion
and
curiosity
as
inspiration for
their
work.
As
in
past
years
the articles
in
this
year's
volume
encompass
a
breadth
of
topics,
representing
the
influence
of
law
in
our
everyday
lives
as
well
as
the dynamic
nature
of
law
and
importance
of
legal
discourse.
Politics, policy and
law
inform one
another
and
collectively
they
form
an
inextricable
link
with
society.
The
result
is
an
interrelationship
whereby
each
is
influenced
by
the other, providing
a
catalyst
for change
or
a
justification
for
keeping the
status
quo.
Added
to
this
is
the
dichotomy
between the
perception that
the
law
should provide
stability, consistency
and coherence
against
the
view
that
the
law
is
dynamic,
flexible
and
ever
evolving
to keep pace
with
the
fluid
nature
of
society.
If
there
is a
common
thread
to
the
articles
which
follow,
it
is
that
they illustrate not
only
the
dynamic
interrelationship
of
law
and
society, but
also many
show
the
underlying
tension
between
creating the momentum
for
change
against
the
need
for
maintaining the
status
quo.
In
her
article Claire
Hogan
offers
a
thoughtful
and
refreshing analysis
of
religion
in
Irish
schools
as
she
compares the religious
climates
in
Ireland
and
France.
With
particular
reference
to
France's
2004
law
prohibiting
the
"wearing
of
'conspicuous
religious
symbols and
clothing'
in
public
schools",
she
aptly
analyses
the
historical
and
constitutional considerations
in
both countries
to
consider
whether
Ireland,
as
society becomes
more
culturally
diverse,
could
ever
impose
a
similar
ban
in
this
jurisdiction.
Abigail
Semple
explores
other
constitutional
and
procedural issues
Ireland
will confront
as
the
demand
for
Alternative
Dispute
Resolution
increases.
She
uses
as
her
vehicle the recent
Canadian
debate over
the
proposed expansion
of
tribunals there
to
apply
the
rules
of
Shari'a
law
to
family
law
matters
to
examine the
constitutional
implications
that
further
devolution
and
extension
of
arbitration
in
civil
matters would
have
in
Ireland.
She
rightly predicts
that
with
the
increased
demand
for
ADR
(evidenced
already
by
the
institution
of
the
Personal
Injuries
Assessment
Board),
constitutional
and
procedural questions
involving the
concepts
of
justice
and
the
scope
of
judicial
powers
first
will have
to
be
answered
before
an
effective
expansion
can
take
place.
Reflecting
a
relatively
recent development
in
environmental
law,
David
O'Connor
provides
us
with
a
deft,
if
somewhat
daring, analysis
of
the
recent
Supreme
Court
decision
in
Ashbourne
Holdings.
He
goes
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