Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 May 2026
793. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will review the operation of the court fees regime under S.I. No. 492 of 2014 to ensure that fees do not act as a barrier to individuals seeking to vindicate their constitutional rights in the Superior Courts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34247/26]
View answerMatters in regard to court fees are set by Statutory Instrument made by the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation.
The court fee structures currently in place are designed to be proportionate and balanced to ensure continued access to justice, while supporting appropriate contribution to the efficient running of the court system overall. The current fees system reflects the need to ensure the interests of applicants, as well as considering the public interest in the smooth operation of the court system. This balance of interests, as well as applicable administrative considerations, is evident in the extensive range of existing exemptions from court fees already in place in regard to specific categories of proceedings and by some State bodies.
Matters arising in relation to court fees are kept under consideration by my Department, as appropriate. I can confirm that S.I. No. 492/2014 (Supreme Court, Court of Appeal and High Court (Fees) Order 2014) is currently under review with a view to revising a number of its provisions to resolve an issue which has arisen as a result of a recent High Court judgement regarding the exemption for habeas corpus actions and to provide for an exemption for Qualified Entities under the Representative Actions for the Protection of the Collective Interests of Consumers Act 2023. The review is addressing a limited number of technical and legal issues.
