The Chief Justice, President of the Court of Appeal and President of the High Court, hereby issue the following Practice Direction in accordance with s. 11(12) and (13) of the Civil Law and Criminal Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2020.

Access to court files in the Superior Courts

1. This Practice Direction is issued to extend the terms of Practice Direction HC 86, only insofar as provision is hereby made to allow access to Court files to the Incorporated Council of Law Reporting for Ireland for the purposes of reporting.  In relation to all other requests for access to Court files and copies of documents on a Court file, PD HC 86 will remain in operation.

2. The Incorporated Council of Law Reporting for Ireland shall be entitled to access to files in the offices of the Superior Courts subject to strict compliance with the terms of such protocol or protocols as may be agreed between the Council and the Presidents of the respective Courts from time to time. Any such Protocol will be furnished to the relevant Court office.

3. This Practice Direction is issued by each of the signatories hereunder in respect of the Court of which he/she is President, and shall have application to files of proceedings before each such Court accordingly.

4. This Practice Direction shall come into operation on the 4th of February 2022.

Dated this 4th February 2022

Signed:

Donal O’Donnell
Chief Justice

George Birmingham
President of the Court of Appeal

Mary Irvine
President of the High Court