The Planning and Environment Court was established last year as a specialised division within the High Court in a bid to speed up complex judicial reviews.

Mr Justice Richard Humphreys, the judge in charge of the court, will chair the users’ group, established today on a pilot basis for a six to 12-month period.

The primary function of the new group is to serve as a forum for dialogue between the Court and stakeholders on practice and procedure issues relevant to the efficient functioning of the court.

Alongside Mr Justice Humphreys and the two current list registrars, John Sinclair and Gareth Redmond, the other members are:

• Eimear O’Doherty — Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council;
• Tara Hegarty — South Dublin County Council;
• Conor Minogue — CSSO;
• Lucy Haggan Logan — CSSO;
• Kevin Baneham — An Bord Pleanala;
• Jonathan Moore — Fieldfisher;
• Rachel Minch SC — Philip Lee and chair of Law Society’s environmental and planning law committee;
• Stephen Dodd SC — Planning, Environment and Local Government Bar Association (PELGBA);
• Fred Logue — FP Logue;
• Attracta Uí Bhroin — Environmental Law Ireland;
• Luke McCann — McCann Fitzgerald;
• Alison Fanagan — A&L Goodbody;
• Danielle Conaghan — Arthur Cox; and
• Tom Flynn SC — chair of PELGBA.

Members will participate in an individual not a representative capacity and any views expressed will not bind their employers or organisations.

Mr Justice David Barniville, president of the High Court, said: “It is a tribute to the practitioners and stakeholders in the Planning and Environment Court and to the reputation of that court that so many excellent people expressed an interest in participating in the users’ group, which is being established today on a pilot basis.

“The court is dealing with an enormous increase in its caseload and in demands for hearing dates for those cases. I greatly appreciate the efforts of the judges of the court in seeking innovative solutions to address those demands.

“Strong case-management, prioritisation of more urgent cases, and setting shorter hearing times, especially for cases that need expedition, are indispensable tools to achieve the timely processing of cases. 

“The court deserves more resources — and the appointment of additional judges, as decided by the outgoing government in November, is awaited and urgently required.

“It is also hoped that new rules of court for the Planning and Environment Court will be soon approved by the Superior Courts Rules Committee which will work alongside useful practice directions.

“I am very pleased that stakeholders are willing to engage with the court to maintain the momentum on creative solutions to keep the business of the court moving in this critical area.”

Mr Justice Humphreys added: “I am delighted at the response from stakeholders to our request for participation in the users’ group.

“The court is extremely well served by outstanding practitioners and stakeholders who have collectively been creative and co-operative with the judiciary in terms of necessary procedural steps to cope with the overflow of business.

“The live caseload has increased by 73 per cent from October 2023 to November 2024, despite no increase in judges on the court.

“Dealing with this demands creativity and a careful allocation of limited judicial resources, not leisurely hearings and business-as-usual.

“As the court has evolved we have been enthusiastic about developing dialogue with stakeholders, and the users’ group is the next phase of that.

“I look forward to working with members as well as continuing the other channels of communication with professional and other bodies.”