The members of the Bar Council are elected annually by the members of the Law Library. The Council consists of 10 practitioners from the Inner Bar, 10 practitioners from the Outer Bar and four co-optees. The Council is chaired by a Chairperson elected by members of The Council.
- Code of Conduct
- Rules of Membership
- Constitution
- Annual Report
- Strategic Plan
- Staff
- Making a Complaint
The General Council of The Bar of Ireland 2023 – 2024
Chair of The Council of the Bar of Ireland
Sara Phelan, SC, Member of the Inner Bar.
Sara Phelan SC continues to Chair the Council from 11 September 2023 – 10 September 2024, following her re-election in July 2023.
A Kilkenny native, Sara was called to the Bar in 1996, having previously qualified and practised as a pharmacist for a number of years, qualifying from Trinity College Dublin (1988). Sara was appointed Senior Counsel and called to the Inner Bar in 2013. A qualified mediator and arbitrator, Sara was admitted to the Bar of England & Wales in 2019 and is a member of Middle Temple.
Inner Bar Panel
- Sara Phelan SC– Chair
- Cathy Smith SC – Vice Chair
- Seán Ó hUallacháin SC – Treasurer
- Michael F Collins SC
- Seán Guerin SC
- Timothy Harley SC
- Brendan Kirwan SC
- Darren Lehane SC
- Imogen McGrath SC
- Seamus Clarke SC
- Rossa Fanning SC – Attorney General
Outer Bar Panel
- Roderick Maguire BL
- Deirdre Browne BL
- Cian P Kelly BL
- Michael D Hourigan BL
- Aoife O’Leary BL
- Tim O’ Connor BL
- Sean O’Sullivan BL
- Tanya Smith BL
- Tracy Ennis Faherty BL
- Tabitha Wood BL
Co-optees:
- Jessica Bartak-Healy BL
- Femi Daniyan BL
- Sharon Dillon-Lyons BL
- Declan Harmon BL
Permanent Committees of the Council of The Bar of Ireland
The following Permanent Committees are provided for under the Constitution of the Council of the Bar of Ireland, and reflect central priorities and activities of the Law Library., and the delivery of services to our members.
Standing Committee
This committee comprises of the chairs of the permanent committees, Chairman and Vice-chair, and Treasurer. The business of the Standing Committee shall be to consider, and if necessary determine, all such matters within the competence of the Council as may be of an extremely urgent nature and require such determination between meetings of the Council.
Ciara Murphy is Secretary.
- Sara Phelan SC– Chair
- Seán Ó hUallacháin SC
- Darren Lehane SC
- Timothy Harley SC
- Roderick Maguire BL
- Declan Harmon BL
- Sean O’Sullivan BL
- Tim O’Connor BL
- Michael F Collins SC
Co-optees:
- Seán Guerin SC
- Deirdre Browne BL
Library Committee
The Library Committee deals with all matters relating to admission to the Law Library, and membership
thereof, including matters relating to the acquisition and maintenance of the materials, whether in look or electronic form, necessary within the Library for the profession.
Samantha de Paor is Secretary.
- Michael F Collins SC – Chair
- Darren Lehane SC
- Timothy Harley SC
- Tanya Smith BL
- Femi Daniyan BL
- Jessica Bartak-Healy BL
- Tim O’Connor BL
Co-optees:
- William Abrahamson SC
- Fergal Foley BL
- Seamus Breen BL
- Grainne M Clohessy SC
- Declan Murphy BL
- Louis Masterson BL
- Wafa R Memon BL
- Mary O’Toole SC
- Brian Storan BL
- Siobhan Clabby BL
- Micheál Ó Scannail SC
- Sarah Reid BL
Professional Practices Committee
This Committee monitors all matters concerning the proper professional practice of members of the Law Library and may investigate and, if thought fit, prefer and present a complaint against any member without the necessity of having the matter referred to it by any third party.
Brian O’Driscollis Secretary to this Committee.
- Chair: Darren Lehane SC
- Tracy Ennis Faherty BL
- Michael D. Hourigan BL
- Deirdre Browne BL
- Tim O’Connor BL
- Seán Guerin SC
Co-optees:
- Conor Maguire SC
- Paul O’Higgins SC
- Ronan M Murphy SC
- Paul McCarthy SC
- Bernard Condon SC
- Vincent Heneghan SC
- Lorcan Staines SC
- Harry Brophy BL
- Joseph O’Sullivan BL
- Elizabeth Gormley BL
- Arran Dowling-Hussey BL
- James Egan BL
- Carol Doherty BL
- Brendan Savage BL
- Grainne Duggan BL
- Leesha O’Driscoll SC
- Ronan Lupton SC
- Niall Nolan BL
- Seamus Breen BL
- Amy Nix BL
- Tomás Keys BL
- Caren Geoghegan SC
Finance Committee
This Committee deals with all matters relating to the finances of the Council and its associate companies for the maintenance and development of the Law Library, Council properties, and IT infrastructure.
Colin Potts is Secretary to this Committee.
- Chair: Seán Ó hUallacháin SC
- Darren Lehane SC
- Seán Guerin SC
- Declan Harmon BL
- Tracy Ennis Faherty BL
- Sean O’Sullivan BL
- Roddy Maguire BL
Co-optees:
- Dermot Kelly SC
- Joseph O’Sullivan BL
- Katherine McVeigh BL
- Kieran Binchy BL
- Tanya Smith BL
- Deirdre Mary Kennedy BL
- Jane Barron BL
- Fergus Foley BL
Education & Training Committee
The Education & Training Committee oversees training for new entrants (including master/devil relationships) and CPD for the membership at large, including ensuring that the profession’s CPD requirements are met, and supports to barristers in practice are in place in light of the longer-term implications of regulation under the LSRA.
Stephen Swanton is Secretary to this Committee.
- Chair: Timothy Harley SC
- Darren Lehane SC
- Seán Guerin SC
- Deirdre Browne BL
- Femi Daniyan BL
- Aoife O’Leary BL
- Sharon Dillon-Lyons BL
- Declan Harmon BL
- Brendan Kirwan SC
Co-optees:
- Murray Johnson SC
- Una Tighe SC
- Lorna Lynch SC
- Niall Buckley SC
- Eoin Martin BL
- Bébhinn Murphy BL
- Jane Hyland SC
- Cathy Maguire SC
Public Affairs Committee
The Public Affairs Committee assists in the promotion of members establishes and maintains appropriate links with all regional and Specialist Bar Associations, the Voluntary Assistance Scheme (VAS), and Irish Rule of Law International (IRLI), and fosters relations and communications between the Council and outside bodies.
Cormac O’Culain is Secretary to this Committee.
- Chair: Sean O’Sullivan BL
- Sean Ó hUallacháin SC
- Darren Lehane SC
- Seán Guerin SC
- Michael D. Hourigan BL
- Aoife O’Leary BL
- Tim O’Connor BL
- Cian Kelly BL
- Sharon Dillon-Lyons BL
- Declan Harmon BL
Co-optees:
- Killian Flood BL
- Adrian O’Higgins BL
- Gemma McLoughlin-Burke BL (VAS)
Young Bar Committee
The Young Bar Committee provides a forum for Young Bar members, and co-ordinates initiatives directed at the needs of practitioners who practise in Years 1-7, as well as contributing to wider Bar priorities.
Cormac O’Culain is Secretary to this Committee
- Chair: Declan Harmon BL
- Darren Lehane SC
- Tanya Smith BL
Co-optees:
- Eamonn O’Donnell BL
- Alexander Langan MacDonnell BL
- Conor Rubuclava BL
- Marguerite Kehoe BL
- Ali Bracken Ziad BL
- David Nugent BL
- Finn Keyes BL
- Niamh Murtagh Quinn BL
- Jack Sreenan BL
- Catherine Needham BL
- Alison Walker BL
- Michael Lindsay BL
- Helena Kelly BL
Circuit Liaison Committee
The Circuit Liaison Committee provides a forum for practitioners to address matters that arise for members practising on Circuit, as well asmaintaining close library and professionaldevelopment connections.
Lindsay Bond is Secretary to this committee.
- Chair: Tim O’Connor BL
- Tim Harley SC
- Michael F Collins SC
- Deirdre Browne BL
- Cian Kelly BL
- Jessica Bartak-Healy BL
Co-optees:
- Timothy MorrowBL
- James McConnonBL
- Adrian O’HigginsBL
- Katie O’Connell BL
- Laura ByrneBL
- Aisling Wall BL
Non-Permanent Committees of the Council of The Bar of Ireland
The following Non-Permanent Committees reflect the continuing priorities and activities of the Law Library and the delivery of services to our members.
ADR and
Arbitration
Committee
This Committee raises awareness of ADR practices among practitioners and the wider public through
partnerships with relevant stakeholders, a programme of education, and its inclusion in wider Bar debates.
Secretary: Rose Fisher
- Chair: Cathy Smith SC
Criminal
State Bar
Committee
This Committee monitors trends and developments within the criminal Bar, liaising with key justice stakeholders on issues of concern, including the Department of Justice and Equality, the Office of the DPP, and others.
Secretary: Ciara Murphy
- Chair: Seán Guerin SC
Civil State Bar
Committee
This Committee engages with State agencies on whose behalf members are routinely briefed including the Attorney General, Chief State Solicitor’s Office, the Legal Aid Board, and the State Claims Agency.
Secretary: Molly Eastman
- Chair: Deirdre Browne BL
Equality and Resilience Committee
Oversees the development and implementation of initiatives that promote equality and diversity at the Bar, ensuring where possible that a member’s ability to achieve their potential is not limited by prejudice or discrimination.
Secretary: Cormac O’Culain (Interim)
Chair: Tracey Ennis Faherty BL
Human Rights Committee
This Committee works to promote justice and respect for human rights through the rule of law. It monitors human rights issues, in particular those involving lawyers who are endangered, and engages with various human rights groups.
Secretary: Nuala Byrne
Chair: Sharon Dillon-Lyons BL