Further to the statement of the President of the Circuit Court Published on 28 January 2021 and due to the current provisions of the Health Act 1947 (Section 31A -Temporary Restrictions) (Covid-19) Regulations 2020, the following is the situation regarding County Registrar business: -
- Applications for the appointment of Care Representative pursuant to section 21 of the Nursing Home Support Scheme Act 2009 will proceed as scheduled in staggered hearings. Please check the legal diary for the venue.
- Taxation of Costs listed for 22 February 2021 will proceed as VMR hearing except those cases not suitable for VMR hearings.
- VMR hearings listed 2 February 2021 will proceed as listed and scheduled.
- Urgent Marriage exemption applications will continue to be heard in line with the procedure adopted since March 2020.
- All other Civil Motions lists and civil matters, Possession Civil Bill lists, Family Law motion lists, Family Law list to fix dates and Family Law case progression listed between 29 January 2021 and 5th March 2021 (both dates inclusive) stand adjourned for dates to be fixed and the next available date will be fixed in due course.
- The County Registrar will be available to hear urgent matters where necessary and parties should contact the Dublin Circuit Court Office to arrange the same.
Notices will be published on the Courts Service website www.courts.ie in due course regarding the relisting of the adjourned Civil motions and applications and Family business and any updates. Parties should consult the website for all updates and Notices. No other notice will be given.
Nursing Home Support Scheme Act 2009 applications for the appointment of Care Representatives will be listed in staggered hearings.
Arrangements are in place to ensure compliance with HSE distancing requirements and your cooperation is appreciated. To comply with social distancing requirements staggered times have been allocated to attend Court for the hearing of these matters. You must only attend Court at your scheduled time. The hearing will take place in accordance with public health and the Courts Service guidelines.
It is the intention that VMR hearings will continue for Taxation of Costs matters, subject to compliance with the previous Notice setting out the requirements. The list for hearing on 22 February 2021 will be published in due course. Any matter in which there is a litigant in person will not be heard by VMR and will be adjourned. Once the list is published the legal representative for the moving party must contact the Circuit Court Office in writing to identify any matter not suitable for VMR hearing and the reason why and that will be removed from the list.
Further, as per the Order of the President of the Circuit Court dated the 6th April 2020, where cases are settled and require to be struck out or other consent orders need to be ruled, during the current restrictions, these will continue to be dealt with by email requests from both parties and will be ruled by the County Registrar without the necessity of parties being present in court.
The following dedicated mailboxes have been set up to deal with such consent applications only by the County Registrar for Dublin.
Dublin Circuit Court Family Law: - email dublincircuitfamilyconsents@courts.ie
Dublin Circuit Court Civil Office email: - dublincircuitcivilconsents@courts.ie
To apply for a ruling/order on consent, one single email ONLY from the moving party which must contain all of the following: -
(a) the correct details of the case and correct record number;
(b )the exact terms of the order sought to be made/ruled on consent;
(c) the written consent of the solicitor for the other party to the making of the consent order;
(d) a copy of the relevant Notice of Motion/ Notice of Trial;
(e)where necessary the relevant exhibits ONLY;
(f) the date the matter is listed before the Court or confirmation nothing listed for hearing.
(g) if a matter is urgent this must be highlighted by the Applicant in the subject line of the email.
If this is not followed the email will not be acted upon and will not be replied to. Other emails sent incorrectly to the consent email address will not be replied to.
Please ensure all consent applications are directed to the appropriate designated e-mail address as they will not be dealt with if sent to the incorrect email address.
The County Registrar for Dublin will be available to hear urgent matters. Urgent applications should be e-mailed to dublinciviloffice@courts.ie or dublincircuitfamilylaw@courts.ie, as appropriate for arrangements to be made.
Dated 28th January 2021
Rita Considine