In Meadows v. Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform [2010] 2 IR 701, at 721-722, Murray CJ stated: Judicial review is concerned with the Courts exercising their constitutional duty to ensure that powers, governmental and administrative are exercised within the law and the Constitution and…in a manner consistent with the rights of individuals affected by them. In exercising its jurisdiction to judicially review acts or decisions of the other branches of government, the Courts must, of course, respect the powers and functions conferred on the Executive and Parliament by the Constitution and by law…

Critically analyse the manner in which the Irish courts have reconciled the competing considerations of vindicating the rights of individuals affected by governmental and administrative decisions on the one hand, and respecting the powers and functions conferred on governmental and administrative decision-makers on the other. In your answer, make particular reference to the principle of curial deference and the doctrine of administrative unreasonableness. Relevant learning outcomes To provide the student with knowledge of the important concepts underpinning why and to what extent judicial review exists and the treatment of those concepts by the Irish courts.