Mr Justice Peart, who retired from the Court of Appeal in 2019, was appointed in February 2021 to chair the six-person review group, which also includes Dr Alan Greene, Anne-Marie Lawlor SC, Caitlín Ní Fhlaitheartaigh, Professor Donncha O’Connell and Ken O’Leary.

The group submitted two reports to ministers after failing to reach agreement. According to The Irish Times, four members of the committee broadly support the continued existence of the court while two oppose it.

The government is expected to publish both reports by the end of next week at the latest.

The Oireachtas will subsequently have to decide whether to renew the legislation underpinning the prosecution of terrorism and organised crime offences in Special Criminal Court.

Sections 2 to 4, 6 to 12, 14 and 17 of the Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 and section 8 of the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009 will lapse if they are not renewed by 30 June 2023.