The Department of the Taoiseach announced on Tuesday 15 July 2025 that the government approved the granting of Patents of Precedence and the title of Senior Counsel to a total of 26 barristers and 2 solicitors.
The grant of a Patent of Precedence, in relation to a barrister, entitles him or her to be called to the Inner Bar and to use the title of Senior Counsel. In relation to a solicitor, it entitles him or her to use the title of Senior Counsel.
The Legal Services Regulatory Authority provides administrative and secretarial support to the independent Advisory Committee on the Patents of Precedence, which makes recommendations to Government.
The Advisory Committee was established in April 2020 under the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015 and is chaired by the Chief Justice. The 2015 Act allowed solicitors for the first time to apply to be granted Patents of Precedence.
For the full list of names published by the Department of the Taoiseach on 5 July 2025, see: Patents of Precedence 2025
For further details on the annual Patents of Precedence application process, see the LSRA webpage Applications for Senior Counsel