Execution is the act of completing or carrying into effect a judgment of a court.  Execution may issue at any time within six years from the date of judgment.  To execute after six years, you must apply to the High Court. An action on a judgment is statute barred after 12 years from the date of the judgment.

Execution information in this section relates to judgment marked in default of appearance, judgment pursuant to order of the Master, judgment in default of defence, judgment pursuant to order of the court, taxed costs, foreign judgments, orders for possession and assessment of the Personal Injury Assessment Board.

 

Execution on foot of: Judgment obtained in court

If you have obtained a court order which specifies a certain amount of damages to be paid, you can enforce the order in the Central Office.  You must lodge the following documents:

If the order specifies a payment schedule / stay on execution pending payment etc., you must lodge an affidavit of debt to confirm any amounts paid.  If the order provides a timeframe within which an appeal can be lodged, you must submit a letter stating that no appeal has been lodged.

 

Execution on foot of: Judgment obtained in the Central Office

You can include the following documents in your judgment set:  

 

 Execution on foot of:  Taxed costs

If you have obtained a court order which allows that costs be taxed and ascertained (by the Taxing Master), you can enforce the order when you have acquired a certificate of taxation from the Office of the Taxing Master.  You must lodge the following documents:

 

Execution on foot of: Foreign judgments

You can enforce judgments obtained anywhere in the European Union (‘foreign judgments) in Ireland.  The method of enforcement depends on the nature of the judgment. 

You should note the following:

  • The judgment should be certified by the courts of the relevant EU country
  • It is a matter for the court of that country to decide which form of certificate is appropriate
  • If the certificate issued is a Brussels I Certificate (44/2001/, you must make an ex-parte application to the Master of the High Court before any execution can take place in Ireland (Order 42A, RSC).
  • If the certificate issued is an EEO Certificate (805/2004) or a Brussels I ‘recast’ Certificate, the Central Office can issue execution directly once the required papers are lodged.

 

Contested foreign judgments

These can be enforced by way of an ex-parte application to the Master.  After you have obtained an order from the Master, you must lodge the following documents:

  • Copy Master’s order
  • Affidavit of service confirming that the Master’s order and enforcement notice were served on the defendant(s) - allow four weeks from the date of service before lodging the documents
  • Letter from solicitor confirming that no appeal has been lodged – this must be dated at least four weeks after service of the Master’s order and enforcement notice
  • If the judgment was obtained outside the Eurozone – a bank certificate converting the amount to Euro as of the date of the judgment in the foreign jurisdiction
  • Copy enforcement notice
  • Order of Fieri Facias 
  • Praecipe Fieri Facias (signed) 

 

Uncontested foreign judgments: European Enforcement Orders Council Regulation (EC) No. 805/2004

The certification and enforcement of European enforcement orders is governed by Council Regulation (EC) No. 805/2004.  This creates a European Enforcement Order for Uncontested Claims - the procedure is set out in Part 74, section V of the regulation.  See also Chapter II, Article 5 and Chapter IV, Article 20 of the regulation.

To enforce a judgment pursuant to the regulation you must lodge the following documents:

  • European Enforcement Order Certificate (EEO Certificate)
  • Order of Fieri Facias
  • Praecipe Fieri Facias (signed)

A claim that does not meet the requirements of the regulation can be enforced by making an application to the Master in the same manner as outlined for contested foreign judgments.

 

Contested/uncontested foreign judgments: European Enforcement Orders Council Regulation (EU) No. 1215/2012

The certification and enforcement of European enforcement orders is governed by Council Regulation (EU) No. 1215/2012.  This creates a European Enforcement Order on jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters (recast). 

See Chapter III, Article 26 and Chapter III, Article 37.1 of the regulation.

Chapter III, section 2 deals with enforcement.  Irish procedural requirements are set out in Order 42A, rule 23 RSC. 

To enforce a judgment pursuant to the regulation you must lodge the following documents:

  • Judgment (or certified copy plus translation if appropriate)
  • European Enforcement Order (original or attested copy plus translation is required)
  • Affidavit of service of the European Enforcement Order with relevant court stamp duty – currently €20.00
  • Order of Fieri Facias
  • Praecipe Fieri Facias (signed)

 

Uncontested foreign judgment – European Order for Payment (EC Regulation 1896/2006)

The creation of a European Orders for Payment procedure and the enforceability of such orders is governed by Council Regulation (EC) No. 1896/2006.  The procedure for enforcement is set out in Article 18 (Enforceability)  and Article 21 (Enforcement)  of the regulation.

To enforce a European Order for Payment pursuant to the regulation you must lodge the following documents:

 

Execution on foot of: Order for Possession

Where a court has ordered that lands or property must be delivered up or relinquished, an application to enforce that order can be made in the Central Office.  You must lodge the following documents:

  • Copy court order stating that the lands/property must be delivered up for possession
  • Affidavit of service **insert form of court order and letter of authorisation form from the plaintiff in the case
  • Affidavit of non-compliance stating that the defendant(s) did not offer up possession of the lands/property as per the court order
  • Letter of authorisation from the plaintiff allowing someone to accept possession on their behalf
  • Order of Possession
  • Praecipe Order for Possession (signed)

Affidavit of service and affidavit of non-compliance:  These can be separate documents or may be combined into one document.  The affidavit of non-compliance should be sworn by the person authorised to take possession of the property.

Letter of authorisation: There should be two originals – one to be served on the defendant(s) and one to be lodged with the court office together with the other documentation.  The letter must recite details of the lands/property and folio number(s) as per the court order

Please see document for more information on Fieri Facias and Judgment Sets.