Research

International research collaborations are in progress, at the invitation of prestigious institutions, such as Warwick Law School; the Centre for Commercial Law and Financial Regulation (University of Reading); the Institute of International Shipping and Trade Law (Swansea University) and Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Mumbai.

Future research plans include:

It is intended to progress the Divergent Judgments Project by publishing research papers, firstly, in SSRN in 2025 and, then to publish in 2026 a Special Edition of a peer reviewed Scopus cited academic journal. In 2026-29, CCLE will expand the project’s  jurisdictional scope to include, at least two small common law jurisdictions ( likely Cyprus and either Singapore or New Zealand) and at least one  large common law jurisdiction (likely India or Australia). This expansion continues our examination of diverging where post-colonial common law (of substantive and institutional nature) but with deepened collaboration with excellent international partners. Highlighting instances where divergence in Irish cases from England is a positive development (for example has a superior outcome in terms of clarity/consistency) resonates with UCD’s new Irish Roots-Global Reach strategic initiative.  

The Digital Markets Act Project will lead to a publication of an edited collection in 2026 (Hart, Oxford). CCLE will co-host the Modern Studies in Commercial Law seminar in Swansea (Institute of International Shipping and Trade Law (September 2025) and in UCD in September 2026. These research initiatives will inform public policy as per UCD strategic initiative ‘Research with Ambition’.

Two CCLE members (Mark Coen and Noel McGrath) will publish their co-edited book, The Irish Court of Appeal: The First Decade of an Intermediate Appellate Court, Hart, 2025. 

The Reimagining Law Teaching project will be advanced by CCLE, co-hosting with University of Reading a conference in UCD in May 2025. It is planned to publish in 2026 the conference papers from 2024 and 2025 in an edited collection.  Designing the research agenda for this project will be faithful to UCD’s Breaking Boundaries’ vision of extending access for diverse learners. 

Selected Research Outputs

COMMON LAW

Kelly, C. “Consumer reform in Ireland and the UK” (2018) 47(1) Common Law World Review 53 doi:(opens in a new window)10.1177/1473779518773639

Kerr, A. “The Concept of Employee: The Position in Ireland, Restatement of Labour Law in Europe Vol I: The Concept of Employee (2017 Hart)

Lucey, Mary Catherine, 'The Restraint of Trade Doctrine: A Traditional Tool fit for the Modern Economy?' in Devenney, J. and Merkin, R. (eds), Essays in Memory of Jill Poole: Coherence, Modernisation and Integration in Contract, Commercial and Corporate Law (Taylor and Francis, London 2018).

McGrath, J., ‘Twenty Years since the McDowell Report: A Reflection on the Powers and Performance of the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement’ (2018) 60 Irish Jurist 33.

McGrath, J., Regulating white-collar crime in Ireland: an analysis using the lens of governmentality. (2019) 72(4) Crime, Law and Social Change,  445. doi:(opens in a new window)10.1007/s10611-019-09825-w.

McGrath, J., ‘Walk softly and carry no stick’: Culture, opportunity and irresponsible risk-taking in the Irish banking sector. (2020) 17(1), European Journal of Criminology, 86. doi:(opens in a new window)10.1177/1477370819870156.

EU BOOKS

Imelda Maher ‘Two Journeys Intertwined: Lord Kerr and EU Law’ in B Dickson and C McCormick (eds.) The Judicial Mind: A Festschrift for Lord Kerr of Tonaghmore, Hart Publishing Oxford 2021 139-153.

Barry Rodger, Imelda Maher and Rónán Riordan, ‘A decade of EU law in the courts of Scotland and Ireland: national legal systems compared’ (2021) 41(2) Legal Studies 311-335

Imelda Maher and Rónán Riordan, ‘The Supreme Court and EU Law: Reshuffling Institutional Balance’ (2020) 2 Irish Supreme Court Review 1-25

Barrett, G., The Evolving Role of National Parliaments in the European Union: Ireland as a Case Study. (Manchester University Press 2018).

Hodson, D., & Maher, I., The Transformation of EU Treaty Making The Rise of Parliaments, Referendums and Courts since 1950 (Cambridge University Press 2018)

McMahon, J. A., EU Agricultural Law and Policy (Edward Elgar Publishing 2019).

BREXIT

Maher, I, 'The Common Travel Area: The Limits of Codification’. Brexit Institute Working Paper Series No 17/2021, Available at SSRN: (opens in a new window)https://ssrn.com/abstract=3965733."

Barrett, G.  “Don’t You Know They’re Talkin’ ’bout a Revolution? (It Sounds Like a Whisper)”: the Bundesverfassungsgericht Ruling in Weiss, in M. Belov, Peace, Discontent and Constitutional Law: Challenges to Constitutional Order and Democracy (forthcoming, Routledge, May 2021)

Barrett, G. “Modalities, Political Practices and the Law on Referendums in Ireland: Some Observations” in Maria Cahill, Colm O’Cinneide, Seán Ó Conaill and Conor O’Mahony (eds) Constitutional Change and Popular Sovereignty: Populism, Politics and the Law in Ireland (forthcoming, Routledge, May 2021)

Barrett, G. “Coronavirus and EU Law – Driving the Next Stage of Economic and Monetary Union? in G. Barrett et al (eds) The Future of Legal Europe: Will We Trust in It?  (forthcoming, Springer, April 2021)

Barrett, G. “The Choice for Europe since Maastricht  - the Irish Approach to Economic and Fiscal Integration” in S. Griller (ed), EMU Integration and Member States’ Constitutions (forthcoming, Hart Publishing, February, 2021)

Barrett, G., ‘The Irish Parliament and Brexit’ in Christensen, T.  & Fromage, D. (eds), Brexit and Democracy - The Role of Parliaments in the UK and the European Union (Houndmills: Palgrave Macmillan 2019)

Barrett, G., ‘Brexit and the Free Movement of Services: Challenges and Regulatory Solutions’ in Kainer, F. & Repasi, R. (eds.), Trade Relations after Brexit.(Oxford: Hart/Nomos 2019).

Benedi Lahuerta, S., & Iusmen, I., ‘EU nationals’ vulnerability in the context of Brexit: the case of Polish nationals’ (2020) Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies. doi:(opens in a new window)10.1080/1369183X.2019.1710479

Butler, G., & Barrett, G. ‘Europe's 'Other' Open-Border Zone: The Common Travel Area under the Shadow of Brexit’ (2018) 20 Cambridge Yearbook of European Legal Studies 252-286. doi:(opens in a new window)10.1017/cel.2018.10

Maher, I. ‘Crossing the Irish Law Border after Brexit: The Common travel Area and the Challenge of Trade’ in De Londras, F. & Mullally, S. (eds.), Irish Yearbook of International Law pp. 51-69) (Oxford: Hart Publishing 2018).

McMahon, J. A., ‘Africa post-Brexit in EU development cooperation policy and UK trade policy: Investing in new relationships?’ in Ethiopian Yearbook of International Law (Vol. 2018, pp. 181-203). doi:(opens in a new window)10.1007/978-3-030-24078-3_8

McMahon, J.A., ‘Brexit, trade and agriculture: waiting for answers’ (2018) 17(1-2) Journal of International Trade Law and Policy, 19-33. doi:(opens in a new window)10.1108/JITLP-01-2018-0001 

Switzer, S., & McMahon, J. A.,  ‘Devolution and post-Brexit trade agreements: Towards a joint trade policy committee?’ (2019) 23(2), Edinburgh Law Review, 266-272. doi:(opens in a new window)10.3366/elr.2019.0556