Courts Policy/Legal Services

• 18/10/2011   Judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Superwood v Ireland
  Department of Justice and Equality, maintaining and enhancing community security and promoting a fair society through a range of policies and high quality services.
• 07/12/2010   Report of the Implementation Group following an Investigation by Judge Michael Reilly into the handling of the sentencing, release and post release procedures in a criminal matter
  Report of the Implementation Group following an Investigation by Judge Michael Reilly into the handling of the sentencing, release and post release procedures in a criminal matter
• 07/12/2010   Report of an investigation by Judge Michael Reilly, Inspector of Prisons, into the handling of the sentencing, release and post release procedures in a criminal matter
  Report of an investigation by Judge Michael Reilly, Inspector of Prisons, into the handling of the sentencing, release and post release procedures in a criminal matter
• 10/09/2010   Judgment of the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of McFarlane v Ireland
  The applicant, Brendan McFarlane, brought a case against Ireland to the European Court of Human Rights alleging unjustified delays in the criminal proceedings brought against him. The Court found that there had been a violation of Article 13 (right to an effective remedy) and Article 6 § 1 (right to a fair trial within a reasonable time) of the European Convention on Human Rights. The final judgment will be transmitted to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe for supervision of execution.
• 24/05/2010   Review of the Drug Treatment Court
  The Drug Treatment Court (DTC) was established on a pilot basis in 2001. It was initially evaluated in 2002 and a further short review was carried out in 2005. The court was placed on a permanent footing in 2006 as recommended in the 2005 review. The Agreed Programme for Government 2007-2012 contained a commitment to expand the court. However, in the light of concerns regarding the numbers being served by the court, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform directed that prior to any expansion a further review should be undertaken in order to evaluate its continued effectiveness. The object of the review is to identify the reasons behind the low number of referrals and examine how increased throughput could be achieved.
• 12/03/2009   Fees Payable to a Solicitor under the Garda Station Legal Advice Scheme
  Details of the fees payable to a solicitor for consultations with a person detained at a Garda station who is entitled to avail of the Garda Station Legal Advice Scheme
• 12/03/2009   S.I. No. 74 of 2009 - Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2009
  These Regulations provide for a decrease in the fees payable under the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme to solicitors for attendance in the District Court and for appeals to the Circuit Court, and for a decrease in the fees paid to solicitors and counsel in respect of essential visits to prisons and other custodial centres (other than Garda Stations) and for certain bail applications, as follows: 8% with effect from 12th March, 2009
• 04/02/2009   S.I. No. 15 of 2009 - Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) (Amendment) Regulations 2009
  I, DERMOT AHERN, Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by section 10(1)(b) of the Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Act 1962 (No. 12 of 1962) (as adapted by the Justice (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1997 (S.I. No. 298 of 1997)), and with the consent of the Minister for Finance, hereby make the following Regulations:
• 01/03/2007   Report of the Legal Costs Implementation Advisory Group
  The task of Legal Costs Implementation Advisory Group was to elaborate on the recommendations of the Legal Costs Working Group and to identify suitable structures and processes to implement those recommendations.
• 05/09/2006   S.I. No. 460 of 2006 – Civil Legal Aid Regulations 2006
  Regulations relating to financial eligibility for civil legal aid and advice and contributions towards costs, which came into operation on 1 September, 2006