The book ‘Judges, Politics and the Irish Constitution’ edited by Laura Cahillane, James Gallen and Tom Hickey was launched on 18th May in the Royal Irish Academy by Senator Michael McDowell. The book arose out of a conference organised by the editors in 2014 and it brings together academics and judges to consider ideas and arguments flowing from the often complex relationships between law and politics, adjudication and policy-making, and the judicial and political branches of government.
The book is dedicated to the memory of the late Mr Justice Adrian Hardiman, who also contributed a chapter to the volume, and a copy was presented to his widow Judge Yvonne Murphy on the night.
The launch was well attended by members of the superior courts, the president and vice-president of DCU, members of the legal professions and the academic community.
Senator McDowell praised the editors for bringing together such a distinguished collection and recommended it as essential reading. The book was also described in a review in the Irish Times as ‘timely’ and ‘excellent’.
