Court archive
Several High Court
2024-06-10 · Kildare
Several High Court challenges have been filed by organisations that claim their applications for the now-defunct Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP) were wrongly rejected by the Minister for Justice. The IIP, abolished in 2023, had allowed non‑EU nationals to invest large sums in Irish projects in exchange for residency visas. The applicants, who submitted their applications before the programme's discontinuation, were not included in the scheme. On Monday, lawyers for 'The Church on the Main Street CLG' and Naas Rugby Football Club presented separate judicial review actions. The church had secured an investor to purchase and renovate the Dara Cinema, now a food bank and drop‑in centre, while the rugby club had an investor to upgrade facilities and build a new pitch. Both investors were prepared to commit at least €400,000 as philanthropic donations to endowment projects benefiting arts, sports or education.
2021-12-08 · Waterford
The High Court heard that several challenges to new personal injury guidelines are creating real difficulties in processing claims. The challenges, aimed at setting aside guidelines adopted by the judicial council in March 2021, are opposed by the State and the Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB). The lead case, brought by Ms Bridget Delaney, was deemed the first to be heard. Eoin McCullough SC for the State argued that the challenges affect thousands of claims and called for an early trial date. Douglas Clarke SC for PIAB supported the State's request, while Feichin McDonagh SC for Ms Delaney said a date would be premature given outstanding pre‑trial matters. Justice Charles Meenan noted a mismatch between judges and workload, adjourned the cases to January, and directed an exchange of pleadings to expedite matters. Ms Delaney seeks to quash PIAB's assessment and the judicial council's adoption of the guidelines, alleging procedural and constitutional violations.
2021-01-27 · Ireland
Several High Court challenges have been filed by parents of five school‑going children with special needs, seeking judicial review of the Minister for Education's decision not to reopen schools for pupils with intellectual disabilities. The applications, presented to Mr Justice Charles Meenan, ask for orders and injunctions compelling the Minister and the State to reopen the schools and to provide an adequate and appropriate education under the 1988 Education Act and Article 42 of the Constitution. The parents argue that the Minister's announcement on 19 January that schools would remain closed due to a lack of cooperation from key staff trade unions was contrary to the earlier plan to reopen on 21 January. They claim the closures have caused severe regression in basic skills for children with conditions such as Autism Spectrum Disorder, and that the State has failed in its duty to provide suitable education.