Judicial reviews that block vital infrastructure and housing will be restricted, and at the same time, Ministers and top civil servants will be given direct responsibility for delivering specific reforms to accelerate projects, under a plan to be unveiled by the Government this morning. It is expected to point the finger at the high number of judicial reviews, where someone goes to court to challenge the legality of a decision by an arm of the State, creating “longer timelines, higher costs, and cascading delays”. There will be changes to rules over legal costs to dissuade people from taking judicial reviews, while other reforms to the way judicial reviews work are due to be completed next year. The Cabinet also agreed to open a six-week public consultation on changes to legal fees paid in environmental judicial reviews. Further legal reforms will also be implemented to provide for emergency powers to push through critical infrastructure projects.

Source: The Irish Times December 03, 2025 15:33 UTC