Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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1507.To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality for an update on her Department’s review of the use of the judicial review mechanism in the Irish jurisdiction; the objectives of this review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31709/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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A Review Group, chaired by Mr. Justice Peter Kelly, was appointed to make recommendations for changes with a view to improving access to civil justice in the State, promoting early resolution of disputes, reducing the cost of litigation, creating a more responsive and proportionate system and ensuring better outcomes for court users.

The Review Group’s report, published in 2020 made over 90 recommendations across a wide range of areas to strengthen the future administration of civil justice in Ireland.

A number of recommendations related to the non-statutory judicial review and the Report identified changes to the non-statutory judicial review process as among the reforms likely to contribute most to achieving the review’s objectives.

Implementation of the recommendations is overseen by an Implementation Group chaired by the Department of Justice. It is comprised of representatives of the Department of Justice, the Department of An Taoiseach, Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, the Courts Service, and the Judiciary. It meets quarterly and it will meet next on 25 July 2024.

Changes to the non-statutory judicial review system are being reviewed as part of a Civil Reform Bill which is currently being prepared. The Bill aims to implement those recommendations from the Review Group that require primary legislation.

In addition to judicial review, it is envisaged that it will include changes in relation to discovery, multi-party litigation, automatic discontinuance and other procedural reforms intended to improve efficiencies across the Civil Justice system.