愛爾蘭法律體系介紹(Introduction to the Irish Legal System)

1、愛爾蘭法律體系介紹(Introduction to the Irish Legal System)日期：2006-06-16來源：中國民商法律網(wǎng)  作者：字體：大 中 小 本篇文章是愛爾蘭外交部同愛爾蘭駐華使館一同準(zhǔn)備的四篇文章中的第一篇。它旨在提供愛爾蘭在法律和法律實(shí)施方面的信息。緊接下來的文章介紹了法律體系的主要特征，重點(diǎn)介紹愛爾蘭法律的起源。后面的文章將介紹愛爾蘭法院系統(tǒng)和司法作用，法律專業(yè)，知識產(chǎn)權(quán)法的內(nèi)容和實(shí)施及特別案例。 This article forms the first of a series of four articles prepared by the De

2、partment of Foreign Affairs of Ireland in cooperation with the Embassy of Ireland in Beijing, aimed at providing information on Irish law and practice. What follows is an account of the primary features of the Irish legal system focusing on the sources of Irish law. Forthcoming articles will provide

3、 information on the courts system and the role of the judiciary, the legal profession, the practice and substance of intellectual property law in Ireland, and particular cases of interest. 愛爾蘭的法律體系 The Irish Legal System 愛爾蘭的法律體制有些特別，它是由英國傳統(tǒng)的習(xí)慣法派生而來。在過去的七年里，通過兩國司法和立法機(jī)構(gòu)的共同努力，愛爾蘭的法律體系有了很大的發(fā)展。愛爾蘭1921年的

4、獨(dú)立標(biāo)志著它的法律體系從英國的體系中分裂出來，1937年，愛爾蘭人民又頒布了愛爾蘭憲法。它制定了治國的基本原則并納入了許多基本權(quán)利的條款。愛爾蘭加入歐盟后，法律體系也有所改變，最重要的改變是在其權(quán)限內(nèi)本國法律服從歐洲法律。 Irelands legal system is somewhat unique. While it is derived from the English common law tradition, the past seventy years have seen the Irish legal system undergo a process of dynamic de

5、velopment at the initiative of both the judiciary and the legislature. The achievement of independence in 1921 marked a break from the British system and was followed by the enactment of the Irish Constitution by the People in 1937. This laid out the fundamental principles upon which the State was t

6、o be governed and also incorporated extensive fundamental rights provisions. Changes to the legal system have been introduced as a consequence of Irelands membership of the European Union, the most significant of which has been the subordination of national law to European law within its sphere of c

7、ompetence. 法律的構(gòu)成 Sources of Law 憲法 The Constitution 愛爾蘭憲法于1937年7月全民表決通過，是國家的高級法。愛爾蘭語“Bunreacht na hEireann”,意思是“愛爾蘭基本法”，任何與其發(fā)生沖突的習(xí)慣法和立法的規(guī)定都是沒有法律效力的。它分為兩個(gè)部分，第一部分規(guī)定了國家的立法、執(zhí)法和司法機(jī)構(gòu)。憲法強(qiáng)調(diào)了上述三個(gè)機(jī)構(gòu)間權(quán)利的嚴(yán)格劃分。第二部分明確規(guī)定國家將通過法律來保證公民的基本權(quán)利得到尊重和維護(hù)。憲法的解釋和維護(hù)工作是由法院來做的，因此法院在國家制定社會政策方面起到了重要的作用。同樣，法院在對制定有法律依據(jù)但在憲法中未明確規(guī)定的權(quán)利的

8、法律原則方面起了輔助作用。最近我們注意到了歐洲保護(hù)人權(quán)和基本自由公約開始實(shí)施，這一公約規(guī)定了國家在人權(quán)領(lǐng)域一套新的法律職責(zé)。在司法運(yùn)作中，法院是絕對獨(dú)立的，它只服從于憲法和法律。 The Irish Constitution was adopted by popular referendum in July 1937 and is the superior law of the State. Its Irish language title is Bunreacht na hEireann which means basic law of Ireland and any common law

9、or legislative rule which is found to be in conflict with it is invalid and consequently without legal effect. It can be divided into two parts, the first of which establishes the legislative, executive and judicial organs of the State. The Constitution insists upon a strict separation of powers bet

10、ween these three organs of State. The second part articulates certain fundamental rights of the citizen which the State guarantees in and by its laws, to respect, defend and vindicate. The task of interpreting and upholding the Constitution has been entrusted to the Courts which have therefore had a

11、 significant role in shaping the social policy of the State. Similarly, the Courts have been instrumental in developing the doctrine of unenumerated rights which has its basis in the Constitution. It may also be of interest to note the recent incorporation of the European Convention for the Protecti

12、on of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms which has introduced a new set of legal obligations for the State within the area of human rights. In the exercise of their judicial function the Courts are absolutely independent and subject only to the Constitution and the law. 習(xí)慣法 Common Law 愛爾蘭是一個(gè)習(xí)慣法國家

13、之一。它的法律體系的特點(diǎn)是依靠司法判決，而司法判決往往是根據(jù)享有法律效力的先例而定。習(xí)慣法是法律的起源，它是經(jīng)過長時(shí)間的司法判決而出現(xiàn)的一個(gè)法律體系?，F(xiàn)在在愛爾蘭許多地方仍在使用習(xí)慣法的細(xì)則，目前的趨勢是立足于將絕大部分法律變成法定法律。1975年我們成立了一個(gè)法律改革委員會，其任務(wù)就是改革和更新愛爾蘭過時(shí)的法律。委員會的許多建議已在立法中得以實(shí)施。 As a member of the common law family, Irelands legal system is characterised by its reliance on judicial decisions, which b

14、y virtue of the doctrine of precedent enjoy binding force of law. The common law, as a source of law, refers to a discernible body of law which has emerged from centuries of judicial decisions. While many areas of Irish law are still governed by common law rules, the current trend is towards putting

15、 most law on a statutory footing. In 1975 a Law Reform Commission was established with the task of reforming and modernising outdated aspects of Irish law. Many of its recommendations have been implemented in legislation. 立法 Legislation 國家的立法機(jī)構(gòu)是國家議會，它由兩院組成，即眾議院和參議院。作為全民選舉的議院，眾議院比參議院享有更多的優(yōu)勢。一個(gè)提案在總統(tǒng)簽署

16、成為法律之前必須在兩院得以通過。愛爾蘭立法包括兩類，一類是初級立法，它包括議院法案也稱之為法令。另一類是二級立法，它包括議會授權(quán)的個(gè)人或組織制定出來的措施。 The legislative organ of the State is the Oireachtas (the National Parliament) which consists of two Houses, Dáil Eireann (the House of Representatives) and Seanad Eireann (the Senate). As the popularly elected House

17、, Dáil Eireann enjoys supremacy over the Seanad. A Bill must be passed by both Houses before being signed into law by the President. Irish legislation falls into two categories. The first, primary legislation consists of Acts of the Oireachtas, also known as statutes. The second category is cal

18、led delegated or secondary legislation which consists of measures enacted by a person or body to whom the Oireachtas has delegated legislative authority. 歐洲法律 European Law 1973年7月愛爾蘭加入了歐盟，當(dāng)時(shí)該組織被稱之為歐洲共同體。成為歐盟成員國之后，歐盟要求愛爾蘭的本國法在共同體權(quán)限范圍內(nèi)服從共同體法。為此，愛爾蘭需要修正其憲法以表示這一協(xié)議的實(shí)施。愛爾蘭法中現(xiàn)在有一項(xiàng)條款規(guī)定在本國憲法中沒有任何條款可以阻止共同體法在愛

19、爾蘭的法律實(shí)施。對于作為歐盟成員國國家的需要所通過的國家法律，憲法也無權(quán)使其無效。 On 1 July 1973 Ireland became a member of what was then the European Communities. In doing so Ireland was required to accept the supremacy of Community law over Irish law in areas of Community competence. It was therefore necessary to amend the Irish Constit

20、ution to reflect this arrangement. There is now a provision which ensures that nothing in the Constitution can prevent Community law from having the force of law in the State. Nor can the Constitution be used to invalidate any national law adopted which was necessitated by membership of the European

21、 Union or the Communities. 共同體法包括條約法及共同體各機(jī)構(gòu)通過的歐洲司法和立法院的判決。立法最為重要的是形式是法規(guī)和指令.法規(guī)適用于各成員國，它繞過了各國正常的立法程序。指令與法規(guī)不同，它對成員國提出一些法律要求，但如何滿足這些要求，則由各國按照本國的法律自行決定。在愛爾蘭，指令通常是通過二級立法來實(shí)施。歐洲法院和愛爾蘭法院受委托共同監(jiān)督并確保共同體法的實(shí)施。 Community law takes the form of treaty law, judgments of the European Court of Justice and legislation enacted by the Community institutions. The most significant forms of Community legislation are Regulations and Directives. Regulations are automatically applicable within the Member States and in that sense they bypass the normal legislative procedures of the State. Directives are