Patents of precedence have been granted to the following 13 barristers who are being called to the Inner Bar:

• Stephen Dodd, BL
• John Edward Donnelly, BL
• Mark John Dunne, BL
• Edward Farrelly, BL
• Dara Mary Foynes, BL
• Margaret Gray, BL
• Niall Hill, BL
• John Kennedy, BL
• Ronan Kennedy, BL
• Brendan Kirwan, BL
• Frank Mitchell, BL
• Elaine Morgan, BL
• Peggy O'Rourke, BL

Date to be fixed

The date for these barristers to be called to the Inner Bar will be fixed by the Chief Justice Frank Clarke, (pictured).

At present, an advisory committee, consisting of the chief justice, the president of the High Court, the attorney general and the chair of the Bar Council, makes recommendations to the Government concerning the granting of patents of precedence.  

In future, such recommendations will be made by a new advisory committee, which will be established by the Legal Services Regulatory Authority under the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015. 

Lay member

The new advisory committee will also include the President of the Law Society and a lay member of the authority.

Solicitors as well as barristers will be able to apply for a patent of precedence: at present only barristers may do so. 

Letters patent are a type of legal instrument in the form of a published written order, issued by the President, granting, in this case, a person the status of senior counsel.