Irish Court of Appeal referendum

The new court, between the High and Supreme Courts, will create 10 new judicial appointments and will cost an estimated €2.5 – €3 million a year, according to the Department of Justice.

The Court of Appeal is intended to clear a significant backlog of civil and criminal appeals, leaving the Supreme Court to deal primarily with constitutional issues. Referring to the referendum outcome, Law Society Director General Ken Murphy said: “There is nothing for which the government has a stronger, clearer, more direct mandate from the people of Ireland than this. It must proceed immediately to put in place a Court of Appeal as a new and necessary piece of infrastructure in our justice system.”

Mr Murphy said this should happen without delay “…and without stinting on the resources necessary to make it effective”. Minister for Justice Alan Shatter, who led the campaign for a ‘Yes’ vote in the referendum, said he hoped the new court would begin hearing appeals this autumn.