Co-hosted by the EU Bar Association

2 CPD Points (Barristers) 2 General CPD Points (Solicitors)

The ICEL hosted a short evening conference on Consumer Law, with leading Irish and international speakers. This often neglected area of law has risen to prominence in recent times with the decision of Mr Justice Barrett in AIB v Counihan and the upcoming judicial review of a decision of the Laois County Registrar in the Grant case. Both of these cases deal with the role of consumer protection in debt enforcement. The event heard how the Dutch courts deal with unfair terms and the obligation on national courts to carry out own motion assessments.

The conference began at 16:30 and finished up at 18:30.

Speakers, topics and chairs

The Hon. Ms Justice Rosemary Horgan, President of the District Court – Chair

Prof Dr Mr Sjef van Erp, Deputy Judge at the District Court of Amsterdam – Lessons from the Dutch courts – own motion assessments and unfair contract terms

Gary Fitzgerald BL – A sleeping giant – consumer law in debt cases

Sean Murphy, Senior Legal Advisor and Director of Consumer Enforcement for the CCPC – Back to the future-the relevance and capability challenges for consumer law in changing markets

As markets evolve and change, consumer protection law faces challenges to remain relevant and capable of addressing areas of consumer detriment. Sean highlighted recent developments in this area and also what we might expect to see in the future.