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Ireland

Law Reform (Personal Injuries) Act, 1958

In short

This law abolishes the "common employment" defense, which previously protected employers from liability for personal injuries caused by the negligence of co-workers. It ensures that employers can be held responsible for such injuries.

What it regulates

  • The defense of common employment in cases of personal injuries.
  • The validity of contracts that try to limit an employer's liability for personal injuries.
  • The application of this defense to specific legal proceedings against the Minister for Finance.
  • The repeal of certain older laws related to employer liability.

Who it concerns

  • Employers and their employees or apprentices.
  • Individuals who suffer personal injuries due to the negligence of a co-worker.
  • The Minister for Finance in specific legal proceedings.

Key points

  • "Personal injuries" includes any disease and any impairment of a person's physical or mental condition.
  • An employer cannot use "common employment" as a defense when sued for personal injuries caused by an employee's negligence.
  • Any contract or agreement that tries to exclude or limit an employer's liability for such injuries is void.
  • This Act does not affect legal proceedings that started before December 23, 1958.
Legal text
Legal text

Law Reform (Personal Injuries) Act, 1958 Skip to content Disclaimer Feedback Helpdesk Gaeilge Léim go dtí an t-ábhar Séanadh Aiseolas Deasc chabhrach English Gaeilge English Produced by the Office of the Attorney General Táirgthe ag Oifig an Ard-Aighne Home Legislation Acts of the Oireachtas Statutory Instruments Pre-1922 Legislation Constitution External Resources Bills (Houses of the Oireachtas) Iris Oifigiúil / Official Gazette Revised Acts (LRC) Classified List of Legislation (LRC) Translations (acts.

  1. ie)Translations (Houses of the Oireachtas) Government Publications for Sale EU Law (EUR-Lex) FAQ Disclaimer Feedback Helpdesk Search Baile Reachtaíocht Achtanna an Oireachtais Ionstraimí Reachtúla Reachtaíocht Réamh-1922 Bunreacht Acmhainní Seachtracha Billí (Tithe an Oireachtais) Iris Oifigiúil Achtanna Athbhreithnithe (CAD) (An Coimisiún um Athchóiriú an Dlí) Liosta Rangaithe Reachtaíochta Aistriúcháin (achtanna.
  2. ie)Aistriúcháin (Tithe an Oireachtais) Foilseacháin Rialtais ar Díol Dlí AE (EUR-Lex) CCanna (Ceisteanna Coitianta) Séanadh Aiseolas Deasc chabhrach Cuardach TitleTeideal Year(
  3. s)or rangeBliain nó blianta nó raon TypeCineál All Legislation Acts Statutory Instruments Advanced SearchCuardach Casta HomeBaile ActsAchtanna 1958 Law Reform (Personal Injuries) Act, 1958 Law Reform (Personal Injuries) Act, 1958 Permanent Page URL View by SectionAmharc de réir Ailt View Full ActAmharc ar an Acht Iomlán Bill History Stair Bille Commencement, Amendments, SIs made under the Act Tosach Feidhme, Leasuithe, IRí arna ndéanamh faoin Acht Print Full ActPriontáil an tAcht Iomlán Number 38 of 1958. LAW REFORM (PERSONAL INJURIES) ACT, 1958. ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS Section 1. Common employment not to be a defence. 2. Provisions as to pending legal proceedings. 3. Repeals. 4. Short title. SCHEDULE Enactments Repealed Acts Referred to Road Traffic Act, 1933 No. 11 of 1933 Fatal Injuries Act, 1956 No. 3 of 1956 Number 38 of 1958. LAW REFORM (PERSONAL INJURIES) ACT, 1958. AN ACT TO ABOLISH THE DEFENCE OF COMMON EMPLOYMENT. [23rd December, 1958.] BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS:— Common employment not to be a defence. 1.—

(1)In this section “personal injuries” includes any disease and any impairment of a person's physical or mental condition, and “injured”shall be construed accordingly.
(2)It shall not be a defence to an employer who is sued in respect of personal injuries caused by the negligence of a person employed by him that such person was, at the time the injuries were caused, in common employment with the person injured.
(3)Any provision contained in a contract of service or apprenticeship or in an agreement collateral thereto (including a contract or agreement entered into before the passing of this Act) shall be void in so far as it would have the effect of excluding or limiting any liability of the employer in respect of personal injuries caused to the person employed or apprenticed by the negligence of persons in common employment with him.
(4)The defence of common employment shall not be open to the Minister for Finance in any proceedings brought against him under section 170 of the Road Traffic Act, 1933 (No. 11 of 1933), or under section 7 of the Fatal Injuries Act, 1956 (No. 3 of 1956). Provisions as to pending legal proceedings. 2.—Nothing in this Act shall affect any legal proceedings commenced before the date of the passing of this Act. Repeals. 3.—The enactments mentioned in column
(2)of the Schedule to this Act are hereby repealed to the extent mentioned in column
(3)of that Schedule. Short title. 4.—This Act may be cited as the Law Reform (Personal Injuries) Act,
  1. SCHEDULE Enactments Repealed Section
  2. Session and Chapter or Number and Year Short Title Extent of Repeal
(1)
(2)
(3)43 & 44 Vic. c.
  1. Employers' Liability Act,
  2. The whole Act. No. 47 of
  3. Expiring Laws Act, 1923 . In the First Schedule, the entries relating to the Employers' Liability Act,
  4. Privacy Statement Accessibility European Legislation Identifier (PDF) Open Data License Ráiteas Príobháideachais Inrochtaineacht Aitheantóir Eorpach Reachtaíochta (ELI) Ceadúnas Sonraí Oscailte Liosta Fianán © Government of Ireland. Oireachtas Copyright Material is reproduced with the permission of the Houses of the Oireachtas © Rialtas na hÉireann. Atáirgtear ábhar faoi Chóipcheart le cead ó Thithe an Oireachtais

AI explanation based on the official legal text. Indicative, not a substitute for legal advice.