Who we are
The Courts Service is responsible for the administration and management of the courts in Ireland.
Table of contents
Our primary functions are to:
- manage the courts
- support the judges
- provide information about the courts system to the public
- provide court buildings and facilities for court users
The Courts Service has no role in the administration of justice — that is a matter for the courts and the judiciary. Under the Constitution, judges are entirely independent in the exercise of their judicial functions.
Mission, vision and values
Mission
To support the judiciary and provide excellent services to all users of the courts, thereby facilitating access to justice.
Vision
To develop a world-class organisation that meets the needs of court users.
Values
- Service: user-focused, timely, friendly, professional, collaborative, and delivered to a high standard
- Integrity: honest, objective, fair, impartial, ethical, accountable
- Respect: courteous, considerate
Courts Service Board
The function of the Board is to (a) consider and determine policy in relation to the Service, and (b) oversee the implementation of that policy by the Chief Executive Officer.
Membership
- The Hon. Ms. Justice Elizabeth Dunne — Judge of the Supreme Court; Chairperson of the Board
- The Hon. Ms. Justice Caroline Costello — President of the Court of Appeal
- The Hon. Mr. Justice David Barniville — President of the High Court
- The Hon. Mr. Justice Seamus Woulfe — Elected by the ordinary judges of the Supreme Court
- The Hon. Ms. Justice Tara Burns — Elected by the ordinary judges of the Court of Appeal
- The Hon. Mr. Justice Tony O'Connor — Elected by the ordinary judges of the High Court
- The Hon. Ms. Justice Patricia Ryan — President of the Circuit Court
- His Honour Judge Keenan Johnson — Elected by the ordinary judges of the Circuit Court
- His Honour Judge Paul Kelly — President of the District Court
- Judge Alan Mitchell — Elected by the judges of the District Court
- Ms. Angela Denning — Chief Executive Officer of the Courts Service
- Mr. Sean Guerin — Chair of the Bar Council of Ireland
- Mr. Stuart Gilhooly — Nominee of the Law Society of Ireland
- Mr. Derek Bunyan — Elected by the staff of the Service
- Ms. Rachel Woods — Official of the Department of Justice and Equality, nominated by the Minister
- Ms. Sarah Benson — Nominated by the Minister to represent consumers of court services
- Mr. Owen Reidy — General Secretary, nominated by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions
- Mr. Noel Beecher — Nominated by the Minister for expertise in commerce, finance or administration
Board committees
- Finance Committee
- Building Committee
- Family Law Court Development Committee
- Audit and Risk Committee
Leadership and structure
Our Senior Management Team leads the organisation day-to-day. The organisational chart below shows how we are structured.
Chief Executive Officer
The Chief Executive Officer is responsible for managing the staff and day-to-day business of the Service. She is also the Accounting Officer for the Service.
The Senior Management Team
The Senior Management Team is made up of the Chief Executive Officer and five Assistant Secretaries:
- Assistant Secretary, Superior Courts Operations
- Assistant Secretary, Circuit and District Courts Operations
- Assistant Secretary, Head of Strategy and Reform
- Assistant Secretary, Corporate Services
- Chief Information Officer (Assistant Secretary)
Further information on the management structure is contained in the Courts Service Governance Framework Document .
The CEO and members of the Senior Management Team are designated public officials under the Lobbying Act 2015 and are listed here.
Governance and key documents
- Courts Service Strategic Plan 2021–2023
- Annual Report 2019
- Courts Service Governance Framework (2023)
- Oversight Agreement with the Department of Justice and Equality (2019)
- Protected Disclosures Policy (2023)
- Code of Conduct for Board members
Board meetings
The Board usually schedules five to six meetings each year, with additional meetings as required.
Notes of matters considered and decisions made are published here: View Board meeting notes
