In 2025, the Irish Courts saw the further implementation of digitalisation measures and other procedural efficiencies. As the Courts Service continues to modernise its infrastructure and processes, insurers stand to benefit from a more streamlined legal environment that reflects the realities of modern litigation. Here, we outline some key court developments that have taken place in 2025.
Courts Service digital strategy and modernisation programme
A goal of the Courts Service digital strategy 2024-2027 is to build a system that is more accessible and digitally enabled. As part of that, they will be introducing, in stages, an internal Unified Case Management System (UCMS). This was introduced for civil appeals to the Court of Appeal in August 2025 (having already been introduced for other matters previously, e.g., Circuit Court family cases). The Supreme Court UCMS is due to be introduced by the end of 2025.
This system is intended to be used in the future with an external portal that will lead to an end-to-end digitisation of court processes. It will allow legal practitioners to undertake more steps online, including filing, delivery of a summons, entry of an appearance by a digital user, and making payments. Where permitted, statements of truth, with electronic signatures, will replace affidavits that need to be sworn before another person, and then filed and served. Additionally, the court will be permitted to digitally seal electronic documents. To that end, new digital rules have been introduced for all courts[1] but require practice directions before being brought into operation for High Court cases, for example.
The October 2025 budget allowed for an 8% increase in funds for the Courts Service, to allow it to provide further staff to support the appointment of 20 more judges in the future. This sum is in addition to a 6% increase to €55m being allocated for capital spending for investment in buildings, with €17.5m for the courts' modernisation programme.
Other efficiencies
It is evident that there is a continued drive to maintain and improve efficiencies in the court process, including in terms of speed of resolution of cases:
- The period January 2024 to October 2025 saw the appointment of three judges in the High Court and four Circuit Court judges. A further six judges are due to be appointed to the High Court during 2026.
- 2025 saw the continuation of the Long Vacation Pilot Scheme with cases in certain lists, including non-jury and planning and environment, continuing to be heard during the month of August.
- Two practice directions were issued by the High Court, which apply to all clinical negligence actions in the High Court, irrespective of when the proceedings were commenced. The stated principal purpose and objective of these practice directions is to facilitate the earlier resolution of claims while also ensuring that cases are properly prepared for trial, and to achieve efficient case management generally.
- The Irish government's "Action Plan for Insurance Reform", published in July 2025, maps out various proposed reforms within the insurance sector. In relation to the courts system, one of the actions to be undertaken by the Department of Justice, Home Affairs, and Migration is to progress recommendations in the Kelly Report[2] including legislating in 2026 for:
- Pre-action protocols for actions other than clinical negligence
- Case conduct principles which aim to ensure that proceedings are conducted in a manner which is just, expeditious and likely to minimise the costs of those proceedings
- The courts continue to show an eagerness to have cases mediated where possible. Apart from the benefits to parties of achieving a mediated settlement of their case, there is the further benefit to the courts of judges' time being freed up to deal with other matters, thus achieving further efficiency.
Conclusion
These efficiencies mark an incremental, but necessary shift, in the conduct of litigation in Ireland. They are not just operational or procedural improvements for the benefit of legal practitioners. Ultimately, any and all efficiencies achieved should have a positive impact on insurers' business, in terms of quicker progress of cases through the courts system, along with further cost-effectiveness having been achieved along the way.
However, there is still more work to be done, and it is hoped that these initial changes will lay the groundwork for further modernisation of the court process, including the broader adoption of pre-action protocols in the future. The introduction of the UCMS will enable the Courts Service to identify future requirements with greater precision, which will hopefully lead to continually improving efficiencies within the system.
For further information on Irish litigation and court developments, get in touch with our experts to discuss.
[1] See, for example, Order 117 of the Rules of the Superior Courts
[2] Review of the Administration of Civil Justice, October 2020
