Reflections on statutory cohabitation law reform in Ireland: Past, present & future post-O'Meara? 1024 (October 2024/nonmarriage roundtable)

Part 15 of the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010 governs the breakdown of cohabiting relationships in the Republic of Ireland. However, although the introduction of the statutory redress scheme under the 2010 Act was considered an important response to the growing need for the protection of vulnerable cohabitants, the extent to which it has provided such protection has remained somewhat obscure. This contribution reflects on what we know about the operation of the scheme as currently framed and questions what scope might exist for it to be gently reformed going forward.