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High Court lists

Table of contents

Commercial list

Types of cases

Claims valued at not less than €1,000,000 in respect of claims of contract or tort arising out of business transactions, and certain types of arbitration claims, intellectual property, and judicial reviews where the judge in charge of the list deems it appropriate.

Listing procedures

Applications for entry into the list are made on motion each Monday in term. Once a case has been entered into the list, the matter is case managed and pre-trial directions are given by the judge in charge of the list. A hearing date is allocated by the judge in charge of the list.

Papers for each Monday’s motion list in the Commercial Court are required to be lodged in the Central Office by 4:30 p.m. on the previous Wednesday. Each Friday during term (as per High Court Practice Direction 85) there is a listing before the judge in charge of the commercial list of the cases listed for trial during the following week, to ensure that all pre-trial directions given by the court have been complied with in full.

Find more information on the Commercial Court page.

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Chancery list

Types of cases

Common types of cases in the Chancery List include injunction applications, company law matters, specific performance or rescission of contracts, administration of estates of deceased persons or trust actions, and Revenue cases stated.

Listing procedures

On a Monday there are three Chancery lists:

  1. Chancery List 1: Pre-trial motions in plenary proceedings
  2. Chancery List 2: Companies Act matters and Special Summonses other than those listed in the Chancery Special Summons List
  3. Chancery Special Summons List: Applications for possession and mortgage suits

Plenary cases must be set down for hearing. A certificate of readiness from senior counsel must be filed (see High Court Practice Direction HC75). Once this is done, an application can be made for a hearing date at the time and date set out in the table on the In Court page.

Cases other than plenary cases (for example, cases commenced by Special Summons, originating Notice of Motion, or Petition) that require longer than 20 minutes for hearing are listed in the Thursday Chancery list to assign a hearing date once the case is ready for hearing.

Weekly callover

All cases listed for hearing on Tuesday to Friday each week are called over at 10:00 a.m. on the Thursday of the preceding week to confirm the case is going ahead. The hearing date is vacated if there is no attendance at the Thursday callover list.

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Non-jury list

Types of cases

Actions such as breach of contract actions, negligence actions (other than personal injuries and medical negligence claims), and claims for debt. Statutory appeals and miscellaneous civil actions, cases stated from the District Court, and Dublin Circuit Appeals are also included. In addition, motions for summary judgment in debt claims and other notices of motion that are too lengthy for hearing in the Common Law List are transferred to the Non-Jury List for hearing.

Listing procedures

Plenary actions: The case is set down for hearing. Then a certificate of readiness must be filed in the Central Office. Once this is done, an application can be made for a hearing date at the time and date set out below.

Statutory appeals and miscellaneous civil actions: When the originating notice of motion is filed in the Central Office, the motion is listed for directions on a Monday in the Non-Jury List. The motion may be adjourned for directions from time to time until it is ready for hearing, at which point a hearing date is assigned.

Cases stated: When the case stated is received by the Central Office, it is listed for mention in the Non-Jury List on a Monday for the purposes of being assigned a hearing date and for any necessary directions. The case may be adjourned from time to time until it is ready for a hearing date, at which point a date for hearing is assigned.

Motions transferred from the Common Law List (including motions for summary judgment): Upon transfer from the Common Law List, the motion is listed for mention on the following Thursday in the Non-Jury List in order to be assigned a date for hearing.

Weekly callover

All actions, motions, and other matters listed for hearing in the Non-Jury List on Tuesday to Friday of each week are called over at 10:00 a.m. on the Thursday of the preceding week to confirm that the hearing is going ahead. The hearing date is vacated if there is no attendance at the Thursday callover.

Sittings of the Non-Jury List are held in Cork on three occasions each year. Non-Jury sittings may also be scheduled from time to time at other venues outside Dublin. Applications may be made on any Thursday morning in the Non-Jury List to transfer a motion or action for hearing to the Cork Non-Jury sittings. Practitioners should note that cases longer than three days are not suitable for inclusion in this list.

Applications for Digital Audio Recording (DAR) transcripts

Effective from 26 May 2025, any party making an application in the Non-Jury and Judicial Review List for digital audio recordings of District and Circuit Court proceedings must complete the Non-Jury List DAR Transcript Request Form. Completed forms should be sent to [email protected].

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Personal injuries lists

Types of cases

All personal injury actions.

Listing procedures

Once set down, a PI list number is assigned for the venue. Solicitors should notify the Principal Registrar when actions settle so they can be removed from the list.

Dublin personal injuries list

Dates are allocated by application to the Registrar sitting in the Master’s Court each Monday during term, on consent or on notice. The judge in charge of the list will review applications where required (see times on the In court page).

Personal injuries lists outside Dublin

In advance of each provincial sitting, the senior judge will sit to allocate hearing dates for cases at the next sessions.

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Judicial review list

Types of cases

Challenges to decision-making processes of administrative bodies and lower courts.

Listing procedures

The first stage is an ex parte application for leave, heard on Mondays (see General Notice of 2 December 2019 (Legal Diary)). If leave is granted, file an originating notice of motion in the Central Office. After the first return date, the motion may be listed for directions until ready for hearing, when a date will be allocated.

Weekly callover

All cases listed for hearing on Tuesday to Friday each week are called over at 10:00am on the preceding Thursday. If there is no attendance, the hearing date is vacated.

Related rules & practice directions

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Family law list

Types of cases

All family law actions. This includes Circuit Appeals from the Dublin Circuit Court and appeals from the Circuit Court outside Dublin.

Listing procedures

There is a motion list every Monday. Special summonses in family law matters are transferred to the Judge's List from the Master's List. Nullity petitions are set down for hearing when ready. Special summonses and petitions are assigned hearing dates on a Monday of each term designated as a List to Fix Dates for the next legal term.

All cases listed for hearing on Tuesday to Friday are listed on the Monday of that week to confirm the case is going ahead.

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Jury actions list

Types of cases

Libel, defamation, and assault.

Listing procedures

The case is set down for hearing. After this, the case goes into a list to fix dates. This list is heard at the end of one legal term and assigns cases for hearing in the next legal term. Cases not assigned dates are carried forward into the next list to fix dates, held towards the end of the following term.

See a list of these dates on the Terms and Sittings page.

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Circuit appeal list

Types of cases

The following appeals from the Circuit Court are heard by the High Court sitting in Dublin:

  1. All appeals from the Dublin Circuit Court
  2. Appeals from the Circuit Court outside Dublin where there was no oral evidence at the hearing

Listing procedures

When the notice of appeal is filed, the appeal is listed for mention in the Non-Jury List for the purpose of allocating a hearing date.

Weekly callover

All Circuit Appeals listed for hearing in the Non-Jury List on Tuesday to Friday of each week are called over at 10:00 a.m. on the Thursday of the preceding week to confirm the case is going ahead. The hearing date is vacated if there is no attendance at the Thursday callover.

Circuit appeals heard outside of Dublin

Appeals from the Circuit Court outside Dublin where there was oral evidence at the Circuit Court hearing are heard outside Dublin. Details of hearing venues are listed in the High Court terms and sittings throughout the year. The relevant Circuit Court office can be contacted for further information.

The rules governing Circuit Court Appeals to the High Court are set out in Order 61 of the Rules of the Superior Courts. The Notice of Appeal form is in Appendix I of the Rules of the Superior Courts.

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Asylum and immigration list

This list deals with judicial reviews challenging the decision-making processes of administrative bodies in relation to refugee and asylum status, injunctions preventing deportation, and Article 40 applications where persons are being detained as a consequence of their refugee or asylum seeker status.

A comprehensive Practice Direction HC81 includes all the listing procedures.

See also the General Notice of 20th February 2020 on the Legal Diary.

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Master’s list

The Master of the High Court is allocated powers to hear matters pursuant to legislation and the Rules of the Superior Courts, Order 63, sets out many of these powers.

The Master sits Tuesday to Friday.

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Common law list

On a Monday there are four Common Law Lists:

  • Motions for the sitting of the Court and garnishee motions
  • Motions on notice in summary and plenary proceedings (Lists 2, 3 and 4)

Practitioners should read Practice Directions HC48 and HC84.

Any motion likely to exceed fifteen minutes can, on request, be transferred to the following Thursday in the Non-Jury List for mention to get a date for hearing.

Applications on consent

Applications on consent (except motions listed for the sitting of the Court) are dealt with at 10:30 a.m. by the registrar in the Court to which the lists are assigned.

Discovery motions

Where an order for discovery is made, it is the responsibility of the moving party to provide to the registrar the name of the deponent who will swear the affidavit of discovery.

When an order for discovery is granted, a Word version of the motion on which the order was granted must be emailed to the registrar sitting in the relevant list.

Summary summons list

On alternate Mondays, there is also a summary summons list (see Practice Direction HC84). Applications on consent (except motions listed for the sitting of the Court) are dealt with at 10:30 a.m. by the registrar in the Court to which the list is assigned.

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Other lists

Bail

Appeals from the refusal of bail, variations to bail, and bail in matters where the Central Criminal Court has jurisdiction. This list is dealt with in Cloverhill Prison.

Bankruptcy

Applications to adjourn petitions on consent and applications for new return dates for petitions will be dealt with at 10:45 a.m. by the registrar in the court to which the list is assigned.

Proceeds of Crime

Criminal Assets Bureau matters – the list takes place at 11:00 a.m. on Mondays in the Courts of Criminal Justice.

Common law ex parte

Includes substituted service, renewal of summonses once out of time, and liberty to serve out of the jurisdiction.

Examiners

Applications arising from the Examiner’s Office list where a court order is required.

Extradition

The list is held every Monday in the Courts of Criminal Justice.

Garda Compensation special summonses

The summons remains dormant until the plaintiff’s solicitor and the Chief State Solicitor agree that the case is ready to proceed. At that point, the plaintiff can apply on any Monday to the list for a date.

Hague–Luxembourg Convention (child abduction)

The list takes place at 10:00 a.m. each Wednesday.

Judicial review ex parte

Leave to apply for judicial review (see Practice Direction HC02 and the General Notice of 2 December 2019 on the Legal Diary). The original statement and grounding affidavit should be filed in the Central Office and a certified copy, bearing the record number, lodged in the Central Office by 11:00 a.m. on a Monday. Applications are made before the Court at 11:30 a.m. on a Monday. A copy of the statement of grounds should also be emailed to the registrar.

Judicial review – strategic infrastructure developments

(See Practice Direction HC74) All applications for leave to apply for judicial review concerning strategic infrastructure permissions or decisions must be made to Mr Justice McDonald. He will sit at 10:30 a.m. each Thursday during term to hear such applications. The applicant must lodge all necessary papers in a bound, indexed and paginated form with the Central Office marked “Strategic Infrastructure Application” not later than 4:00 p.m. on the preceding Tuesday.

Probate

Applications issue in the Probate Office. All applications (on notice at the sitting of the Court, on notice, or ex parte) made on a Monday must be notified to the Probate Office in advance.

Rulings in minor and fatal cases

Applications to have settlements ruled by the Court are heard at 10:30 a.m. each Monday.

Restrictions of directors

Applications to restrict or strike off company directors – held monthly on a Monday at 2:00 p.m.

Professional and other regulatory lists

Matters concerning the Solicitors, Nurses, Dental Council, Medical Council, and Wards of Court are heard before the President on a Monday at 2:00 p.m. Papers must be lodged in the Central Office by the prior Wednesday before 16:30.

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Lists outside Dublin

Non-jury and Chancery actions can be heard in Cork. To have a case included, apply to the Registrar in charge of the Non-jury or Chancery list where the parties consent. Where consent is not forthcoming, make an application on any Thursday morning in the relevant list on notice to the other side. Cases longer than three days are not suitable.

Personal injuries (except medical negligence and bullying/harassment) may be heard in Dublin, Dundalk, Waterford, Kilkenny, Cork, Limerick, Galway or Sligo where the plaintiff resides or where the accident/injury occurred.

Appeals from the Circuit Court to the High Court are also heard at venues outside Dublin. For these appeals, administrative support is provided by the relevant Circuit Court office, not a High Court Registrar.

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Bail

Overview

Bail is release from custody based on a bond or promise made by you, or by you and a surety, guaranteeing your appearance in court. If bail is granted, the court may set conditions, including a payment into court. At least one-third of any amount set must be paid before release.

Surety

An independent surety guarantees your appearance. The surety must attend the court office with photographic ID and an up-to-date statement from a financial institution showing sufficient funds (not a joint account).

Types of bail

  • Station bail: Set by the member in charge at a Garda station; you must enter into a bond to appear before the District Court on a specific date.
  • District Court bail: Set by a District Court judge on first appearance.
  • Appeal bail: For appeals to the Circuit Court. Once the bond is signed, you are released pending the appeal.
  • Sent forward for trial bail: New bail may be set when a case is sent forward to the Circuit Criminal Court or Central Criminal Court.
  • High Court bail: Required for certain serious offences where the District Court has no power to grant bail.

Appeals and variations

If the District Court refuses bail (see section 2, Bail Act 1997), you may appeal to the High Court. You may also apply to vary conditions or the amount set.

Related rules & practice directions

Refund of bail

Bail (and surety) is refunded after final orders are made in all attached cases and all conditions are met. Refunds are processed by the Courts Accounts Office on instruction from the relevant court office. Payment is by cheque posted to the address on the bond; notify the office if your address changes.

Breach of bail conditions

If conditions are breached, a bench warrant may issue and you may be arrested. In High Court bail matters, an application is made to the High Court for a warrant and, once arrested, you must be brought before the High Court as soon as practicable for a revocation hearing. The court may order forfeiture and estreatment of bail monies. You (and/or your surety) may apply to vary/discharge estreatment in the District Court and appeal to the Circuit Court.

Relevant legislation

  • Offences Against the State Act, 1939
  • Official Secrets Act, 1963
  • Criminal Procedure Act, 1967
  • Criminal Justice Act, 1984
  • Bail Act, 1997
  • Criminal Justice Act, 2006
  • Criminal Justice Act, 2007
  • Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2009

Forms

More information

For information on bail in the District Court, see What is bail and how does it work?

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