• The rights of de facto families

  THE HIGH Court judgment this week on the right of a lesbian couple to rear a child without access to his biological father raises profound issues about the nature of families and how the law can regulate them. It is not known whether the judgment will be appealed to the Supreme Court, but even if it is, and if it is not upheld there, the issues will not go away. Leaving the courts to deal with them on an ad hoc basis is not good enough. p
  

• Securing future pensions

  THE OECD in its recent review of the Irish economy examines the many challenges involved in planning for the future. A major one relates to pension provision where it suggests that systemic changes are needed now to ensure adequate pension benefits in future. By 2050, the cost of public pensions will rise more rapidly here than in most other EU countries. p
  

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