High Court - President's Notice – Hilary 2022 - Management of Provincial Sittings (Personal Injuries Actions, Non Jury Actions and Circuit Court Appeals)
Subject to compliance by practitioners with all public health and safety guidance and such other directions as may be given by the judge in charge of the list, proceedings at provincial venues will continue in Hilary 2022 on the following basis:
The default position will be that, until further notice, all actions at provincial venues will be listed for a physical hearing. Legal practitioners are nonetheless encouraged to ensure that only necessary witnesses attend court and that hybrid hearings be availed of, where possible.
If parties are agreed that an action or the evidence of one or more witnesses should be heard remotely, the Court will, where possible, facilitate that request. In the absence of consent, any party may apply for such an order to the judge in charge of the provincial list. Notice of any such application should be given in writing to the opposing party at least two clear days in advance of any such application.
The daily call over at provincial venues wills take place remotely unless otherwise directed by the presiding judge. Where the presiding judge permits the daily call over to take place otherwise than on a fully remote basis, the numbers in the courtroom must not exceed that which will provide for social distancing.
Mary Irvine.
President of the High Court
6th January 2022