S.I. No. 157/2026 - Rules of the Superior Courts (Appearances) 2026

Notice of the making of this Statutory Instrument was published in

“Iris Oifigiúil” of 17th April, 2026.

We, the Superior Courts Rules Committee, by virtue of the powers conferred upon us by section 36 of the Courts of Justice Act 1924 , section 68 of the Courts of Justice Act 1936 (as applied by section 48 of the Courts (Supplemental Provisions) Act 1961 ) and section 14 of the Courts (Supplemental Provisions) Act 1961 , and with the concurrence of the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, make the following Rules of Court.

Dated this 2nd day of April, 2025.

Donal O’Donnell (Chairperson)
Caroline Costello	Yvonne McNamara
David Barniville	Gráinne Larkin
Elizabeth Dunne	Michele O’Boyle
Brian R. Murray	Áine Hynes
Mary Faherty	James Finn
Nuala Butler	Mary Cummins
Richard Humphreys	John Mahon
Siobhán Phelan

I concur in the making of the following Rules of Court.

Dated this 10^th day of April 2026.

____________________________

Jim O’Callaghan

Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration

1. (1) These Rules, which may be cited as the Rules of the Superior Courts (Appearances) 2026, shall come into operation on the 8^th day of May 2026.

(2) These Rules shall be construed together with the Rules of the Superior Courts.

(3) The Rules of the Superior Courts as amended by these Rules may be cited as the Rules of the Superior Courts 1986 to 2026.

2. These Rules shall apply in proceedings commenced both before and from the date on which these Rules come into operation.

3. The Rules of the Superior Courts are amended:

(i) by the insertion in Order 4, immediately following rule 16, of the following provisions:

“III. Indorsement of warning as to entry of appearance

17. An originating notice of motion in which a respondent is named shall have indorsed on it the following notice addressed to the respondent:

“If you the respondent wish to be heard by the Court in these proceedings, you are required to enter an appearance in person or by solicitor in the Central Office, Four Courts, Dublin within ten days after service of this originating notice of motion on you (exclusive of the day of such service) or within such other time as is permitted by the Court.””;

(ii) by the substitution for rule 8 of Order 11A of the following rule:

“8. Where a defendant wishes to enter an appearance to contest the jurisdiction of the Court for the purposes of Article 26(1) of Regulation No. 1215/2012 or Article 24 of the Lugano Convention, he or she may do so by entering an appearance in Form No. 10 in Appendix A, Part II, which shall additionally be entitled “In the matter of Article 26(1) of Regulation No. 1215/2012” or “In the matter of Article 24 of the Lugano Convention” (as the case may be).”;

(iii) by the substitution for rule 8 of Order 11B of the following rule:

“8. Where a defendant wishes to enter an appearance to contest the jurisdiction of the Court for the purposes of Article 18 of the 1968 Convention, he or she may do so in the Form No. 10 in Appendix A, Part II, which shall additionally be entitled “In the matter of Article 18 of the 1968 Convention.”;

(iv) by the substitution for rule 8 of Order 11C of the following rule:

“8. Where a defendant wishes to enter an appearance to contest the jurisdiction of the Court, he or she may do so in the Form No. 10 in Appendix A, Part II, which shall additionally be entitled “In the matter of Regulation (EU) 2019/1111.”;

(v) by the substitution for sub-rule (1) of rule 2 of Order 12 of the following sub-rule:

“(1) Save as otherwise provided for in rule 2(3), an appearance to any plenary summons, summary summons or originating notice of motion in which a respondent is named shall be entered within ten days after the service of the summons or motion, exclusive of the day of service, unless the Court shall otherwise order.”;

(vi) by the substitution for sub-rule (2A) of rule 2 of Order 12 of the following sub-rules:

“(2A) A named respondent in proceedings commenced by originating notice of motion, and to whom notice of such motion has been given, and any other party joined to such proceedings by order of the Court or named in the title, who intends to appear in the proceedings shall enter an appearance to such notice of motion in the Form No. 9 in Appendix A, Part II, within ten days after service of the notice of motion or such other time as may be fixed by the Court. Where a respondent or other party is given notice of such motion after the date first fixed for the hearing of the notice of motion, he or she shall enter an appearance thereto within the time fixed by the Court for that purpose.

(2B) A respondent or other party in proceedings commenced by originating notice of motion shall not, without the leave of the Court, be entitled to be heard in such proceedings unless he or she has entered an appearance or otherwise has a statutory right to be so heard, provided that the Court may hear such person on foot of an undertaking to enter an appearance.

(2C) Sub-rule (2A) shall apply mutatis mutandis in inter partes proceedings commenced by any other originating document not otherwise referred to in this Order.

(2D) Subject to sub-rule (2A), the provisions of rules 1, 3 to 8 inclusive, 10 to 13 inclusive, and 26, shall, as far as applicable and with any necessary modifications, apply to an appearance entered in accordance with sub-rule (2A), or sub-rule (2A) as applied by sub-rule (2C).

(2E) For the avoidance of doubt, the entry of an appearance does not confer on a person a right to be heard that such person would not otherwise enjoy.”;

(vii) by the deletion from Order 12 of rule 4;

(viii) by the insertion immediately following rule 18 of Order 12 of the following rule:

“18A. (1) An appearance may be entered with the plaintiff’s written consent to extend the time, given under Order 122, rule 8, but an appearance may not be entered, except with the leave of the Court, if the plaintiff has obtained judgment in default of appearance.

(2) Where an appearance is entered outside the time permitted for that purpose, with or without the plaintiff’s consent, judgment in default of appearance shall not subsequently be given unless the Court, on the application of the plaintiff on notice, sets aside the appearance.

(3) Where an appearance is entered outside the time permitted for that purpose, without the plaintiff’s consent, the plaintiff shall be taken to have waived any objection to late entry of the appearance by a subsequent written consent to extend the time, given under Order 122, rule 8, or by taking a further step in the action. ”;

(ix) by the insertion immediately following rule 29 of Order 12 of the following rules:

“30. An appearance may be expressed as unconditional, or as conditional for the purpose of objecting to the jurisdiction of the Court. Where a conditional appearance has been entered and the Court dismisses the objection, the party who has entered a conditional appearance may enter an unconditional appearance within ten days from the date of the order of the Court, without prejudice to the right to appeal the order dismissing the objection.

31. Notwithstanding any other provision of these Rules, a person who contests the validity of the service on him or her of any originating or other document may be heard on the issue of the validity or otherwise of such service although he or she has not entered an appearance.”;

(x) by the substitution for rule 3 of Order 13 of the following rule:

“3. Where any respondent in proceedings commenced by originating notice of motion fails to enter an appearance to such notice of motion (or, having failed to enter an appearance, has not been heard by leave of the Court in accordance with sub-rule (2B) of rule 2 of Order 12), the Court may, on the hearing of the motion, if satisfied as to the service of notice of the motion on that respondent, grant such of the reliefs sought in the notice of motion against such respondent as seem just and proper.”;

(xi) by the substitution for sub-rule (1) of rule 4 of Order 16 of the following sub-rule:

“(1) The third-party may enter an appearance in the action within ten days from service or within such further time as may be directed by the Court and specified in the notice: Provided that the third-party failing to appear within such time may apply to the Court for leave to appear, and such leave may be given upon such terms, if any, as the Court may think fit. The memorandum of appearance shall be in the Form No. 3 in Appendix A, Part II.”;

(xii) by the substitution for sub-rule (4) of rule 22 of Order 84 of the following sub-rule:

“(4) Any respondent or notice party who intends to appear on an application for judicial review by way of motion on notice or an application on notice for leave to seek judicial review:

(a) shall enter an appearance in accordance with Order 12, rule 2(2A) within ten days of being put on notice of the proceedings or such other time as may be fixed by the Court, and

(b) shall, if that respondent or notice party intends to oppose the application for judicial review following the grant of leave, within three weeks of service of the notice on the respondent concerned or such other period as the Court may direct, file in the Central Office and serve copies on all other parties of:

(i) a statement setting out the grounds for such opposition, and the name and registered place of business of the respondent’s or notice party’s solicitor (if any), and

(ii) if any facts are relied on in that statement, an affidavit, in Form No. 14 in Appendix T, verifying such facts.

For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of Order 12, rule 2(2E) apply to entry of an appearance in accordance with this rule.”; and

(xiii) by the substitution for rule 54 of Order 136 of the following rule:

“54. A respondent or defendant in any proceedings commenced by originating notice of motion pursuant to this Order, and to whom notice of such motion has been given, shall enter an appearance to such notice of motion in the Form No. 1 in Appendix A, Part II, with such modifications as may be necessary, within ten days after service upon him of the originating notice of motion or notice thereof. Where a respondent or defendant is given notice of such motion after the date first fixed for the hearing of the notice of motion, he shall enter an appearance thereto within the time fixed by the Court for that purpose.”.

4. (1) The Forms Nos. 1 and 2 in Appendix A; Forms Nos. 1 and 2 in Appendix C; Form No. 2 in Appendix L and Forms Nos. 1 and 6 in Appendix CC shall be substituted by the Forms bearing the like numbers respectively in the Schedule.

(2) The Forms 6, 7 and 8 are deleted from Part II of Appendix A to the Rules of the Superior Courts.

Schedule 1

Appendix A

No. 1.

O. 1, r. 2

PLENARY SUMMONS

_______

THE HIGH COURT.

20...... No.

Between

A. B.,

Plaintiff

And

C.D.,

Defendant

To the defendant...........

of....... in the County of.......

This plenary summons requires you to enter an appearance in person or by solicitor in the Central Office, Four Courts, Dublin in the above action within ten days after the summons has been served on you (exclusive of the day of such service).

And TAKE NOTICE that if you do not enter an appearance within that time the plaintiff may proceed in this action, and judgment may be given in your absence.

BY ORDER,

Chief Justice of Ireland,

The ... day of ..... two thousand and .....

N.B.—This summons is to be served within twelve calendar months from the date hereof, unless the time for service has been extended by the Court.

The defendant may appear hereto by entering an appearance either personally or by solicitor at the Central Office, Four Courts, Dublin.

GENERAL INDORSEMENT OF CLAIM.

The plaintiff’s claim is .....

(Signed)

This summons was issued by the plaintiff ..... who resides at ....... (state address accurately) and is ....., and *whose address for service is ....... *who consents to the service of documents in the proceedings by electronic mail to .......

or,

This summons was issued by ......., whose registered place of business is ........, * and who consents to the service of documents in the proceedings by electronic mail to ......, solicitor for the plaintiff, who resides at ..... and is .......

This summons was served by me at ...... on the defendant ....... on .....day the ... day of ..... 20...

Indorsed the ... day of .... 20...

(Signed)

(Address)

*delete where inapplicable

_______

No. 2.

O. 1, r. 3

SUMMARY SUMMONS.

_______

THE HIGH COURT.

20......No.

Between

A. B.,

Plaintiff

And

C.D.,

Defendant.

To the defendant .............. of ......... in the County of .....

This summary summons requires you to enter an appearance in person or by solicitor in the Central Office, Four Courts, Dublin in the above action within ten days after the summons has been served on you (exclusive of the day of such service).

And TAKE NOTICE that, if you do enter an appearance within that time, notice of the day and hour of the hearing of this summons will be delivered at the address for service provided in the memorandum of appearance, but if you do not enter an appearance within that time the plaintiff may proceed in this action, and judgment may be given in your absence.

BY ORDER,

Chief Justice of Ireland,

The ... day of ..... two thousand and .....

N.B.—This summons is to be served within twelve calendar months from the date thereof, unless the time for service has been extended by the Court.

The defendant may appear hereto by entering an appearance either personally or by solicitor at the Central Office, Four Courts, Dublin.

SPECIAL INDORSEMENT OF CLAIM.

The plaintiff’s claim is .......

(Signed)

(When the plaintiff’s claim is for a liquidated sum only, add indorsement for costs (if any) prescribed by Order 4, rule 5, as follows:—

and €..... for costs, and upon payment of €..... for demand and €.... for costs within six days after service further proceedings will be stayed.)

This summons was issued by the plaintiff, who resides at........ (state address accurately) and is......., and *whose address for service is ........ *who consents to the service of documents in the proceedings by electronic mail to ....... or,

This summons was issued by ........, whose registered place of business is ......, *and who consents to the service of documents in the proceedings by electronic mail to ......., solicitor for the plaintiff, who resides at ....... and is .........

This summons was served by me at ...... on the defendant ..... on .....day the ... day of ... 20...

Indorsed the ... day of ...... 20...

(Signed)

(Address)

*delete where inapplicable

Appendix C

No. 1.

O. 16, r. 2 (1)

THIRD-PARTY NOTICE CLAIMING INDEMNITY OR CONTRIBUTION OR OTHER RELIEF OR REMEDY.

THE HIGH COURT.

20.... No.

Between

A.B.,

Plaintiff,

and C.D.,

Defendant.

and E.F.

Third-Party.

THIRD-PARTY NOTICE.

Issued pursuant to the order of ........... dated the ... day of ....., 20....

To E.F., of ...... in the ..... of ...

Take notice that this action has been brought by the plaintiff against the defendant. In it the plaintiff claims against the defendant [here state concisely the nature of the plaintiff’s claim] as appears by the indorsement on the summons [or statement of claim] a copy whereof is delivered herewith.*

The defendant claims against you to be indemnified against the plaintiff’s claim and the costs of this action or contribution to the extent of [one half] of the plaintiff’s claim or the following relief or remedy namely .... on the grounds that [state concisely the grounds of the claim against the third-party].

And take notice that if you wish to dispute the plaintiff’s claim against the defendant, or the defendant’s claim against you, you are required to enter an appearance within ten days after the service of this notice upon you.

And take notice that the Court has given the following directions under the said order dated the .....

[and here set out the directions]

If you wish to apply to the Court to vary any of the said directions, you may do so after entering an appearance and before the expiration of the time limited for delivery of your defence under Order 16.

In default of you entering such appearance, you will be deemed to admit the plaintiff’s claim against the defendant and the defendant’s claim against you and your liability to [indemnify the defendant or to contribute to the extent claimed or to ...... stating the relief or remedy sought] and the validity of any judgment that may be given in the action and you will be bound by such judgment and such judgment may be enforced against you pursuant to Order 16 of the Rules of the Superior Courts.

Dated

(Signed)

Solicitor for the defendant.

Appearance is to be entered at the Central Office, Four Courts, Dublin.

________

No. 2.

O. 16, r. 2 (1)

THIRD-PARTY NOTICE WHEN QUESTION OR ISSUE TO BE DETERMINED.

[Title, &c., as in Form No.1 down to, * and proceed;]

The defendant claims that the following question or issue, viz.:

[here state concisely the question or issue to be determined] should be determined not only as between the plaintiff and the defendant but as between the plaintiff and the defendant and yourself.

And take notice that if you wish to be heard on the said question or issue or to dispute the defendant’s liability to the plaintiff or your liability to the defendant you are required to enter an appearance within ten days after service of this notice.

And take notice that the Court has given the following directions under the said order dated the ..... [and here set out the directions]

In default of your entering such appearance you will be deemed to admit the validity of and will be bound by any decision or judgment arrived at or given in this action on the said question or issue and to admit any consequent liability of yourself and judgment may be given against you and enforced pursuant to Order 16 of the Rules of the Superior Courts.

Dated

(Signed)

Appearance is to be entered [&c., as in Form No. 1].

_______

Appendix L

No. 2.

O. 70, r. 6

CITATION.

_______

[Heading as in Form No. 1].

To C.B., of ................

Whereas A.B. of, &c. claiming to have been lawfully married to ....... has filed his petition against .......... in the High Court, praying for .......... wherein he alleges that you have been guilty of adultery [or to have been guilty of cruelty towards ....... the said ........... or as the case may be]: Now this is to command you, that within ten days after service hereof on you, inclusive of the day of such service, you do appear in the High Court then and there to make answer to the said petition, a copy whereof, sealed with the seal of the High Court is herewith served upon you. And take notice that in default of your so doing the High Court will proceed to hear the said charge [or charges] proved in due course of law, and to pronounce, sentence therein, your absence notwithstanding. And further take notice, that for the purpose aforesaid, you are to attend in person, or by your solicitor, at the Central Office, Four Courts, Dublin, and there to enter an appearance, without which you will not be allowed to address the Court, either in person or by counsel, at any stage of the proceedings.

Dated

(Signed)

Registrar.

_______

Appendix CC

No. 1

PERSONAL INJURIES SUMMONS

O. 1A, r. 3

THE HIGH COURT

20.... No......

Between

A.B.,

............. Plaintiff,

and

C.D.,

................ Defendant.

To the defendant ..............

(occupation)

who is ordinarily resident at .................. in the County of ...........

This personal injuries summons requires you to enter an appearance in person or by solicitor in the Central Office, Four Courts, Dublin in the above action within ten days after the summons has been served on you (exclusive of the day of such service).

And TAKE NOTICE that if you do not enter an appearance the plaintiff may proceed in this action, and judgment may be given in your absence.

BY ORDER,

Chief Justice of Ireland,

the ... day of ..... two thousand ......

N.B. - This summons is to be served within twelve calendar months from the date hereof, unless the time for service has been extended by the Court.

The defendant may appear to this summons by entering an appearance either personally or by solicitor at the Central Office, Four Courts, Dublin.

INDORSEMENT OF CLAIM.

The plaintiff’s claim is for the reliefs set out herein for personal injuries suffered by the plaintiff [or state capacity in which the plaintiff sues] as follows:

[The indorsement of claim on a personal injuries summons shall

(a) set out, in numbered paragraphs, full and detailed particulars of-

(i) the nature of the claim and of each allegation, assertion or plea comprising that claim;

(ii) the injuries to the plaintiff alleged to have been occasioned by the wrong of the defendant;

(iii) the acts of the defendant constituting the said wrong and the circumstances relating to the commission of the said wrong;

(iv) each instance of negligence by the defendant, and

(b) contain a schedule of full particulars of all items of special damage in respect of which the plaintiff is making a claim.

The following is a suggested format in which the indorsement might be presented:

1. Description of the parties;

2. The nature of the claim;

3. The acts of the defendant alleged to constitute a wrong, each instance of negligence by the defendant, all other relevant circumstances in relation to the commission of the said wrong and any other assertion or plea concerning same;

4. The injuries to the plaintiff alleged to have been occasioned by the wrong of the defendant;

5. The reliefs sought;

6. (Where appropriate) the particulars required by Order 4, rule 3A.

SCHEDULE

Particulars of Items of Special Damage

(Full particulars should be set out. Add additional sheets if necessary)

(Particulars of a general allegation should be set out in the indorsement under the paragraph containing such allegation and headed “Particulars of ...etc.” Where same are lengthy, they may alternatively be scheduled to the indorsement or set out in additional sheets appended to the Personal Injuries Summons at time of issue and service.) ]

(Signed) _________

This summons was issued by the plaintiff ............

This summons was issued by.............., solicitor for the plaintiff, whose registered place of business is............ *and who consents to the service of documents in the proceedings by electronic mail to ...............

The plaintiff’s personal details are as follows:

1. The address at which the Plaintiff ordinarily resides is:............ (state address accurately). The plaintiff’s address for service, if different from the plaintiff’s address mentioned above, should also be stated here:

If the plaintiff consents to the service of documents in the proceedings by electronic mail, state the electronic mail address to which such documents may be sent:

2. Plaintiff’s occupation:

3. Plaintiff’s date of birth: .... Day .... Month ...... Year

4. Plaintiff’s Personal Public Service Number:

(If the Plaintiff has not been issued with a Personal Public Service Number, this must be stated) ...........

INDORSEMENT OF SERVICE

This summons was served by me at .............. on the defendant ............. on ........ day the ........... day of ............. , 20....

Indorsed the .... day of ............ 20 ...

(Signed)......

(Address)

_______

No. 6

GARDA COMPENSATION PERSONAL INJURIES SUMMONS

O. 1A, r. 3(2)

THE HIGH COURT

20.... No......

Between

A.B.,

............. Plaintiff,

and

C.D.,

................ Defendant.

To the defendant, the Commissioner of the Garda Síochána of .............. in the County of ...........

This Garda compensation personal injuries summons requires you to enter an appearance in person or by solicitor in the Central Office, Four Courts, Dublin in the above action within ten days after the summons has been served on you (exclusive of the day of such service).

And TAKE NOTICE that if you do not enter an appearance the plaintiff may proceed in this action, and judgment may be given in your absence.

BY ORDER,

Chief Justice of Ireland, the ... day of ..... two thousand ......

N.B. - This summons is to be served within twelve calendar months from the date hereof, unless the time for service has been extended by the Court.

The defendant may appear to this summons by entering an appearance either personally or by solicitor at the Central Office, Four Courts, Dublin.

INDORSEMENT OF CLAIM.

The plaintiff’s claim is for the reliefs set out herein for:

*injuries inflicted on the plaintiff (being a member or former member of an Garda Síochána) as a result of a malicious incident (within the meaning of section 2 of the Garda Síochána (Compensation) Act 2022 )

*the death of [name of member] (being a member or former member of an Garda Síochána) as a result of a malicious incident (within the meaning of section 2 of the Garda Síochána (Compensation) Act 2022 )

[The indorsement of claim on a Garda Compensation personal injuries summons shall

(a) set out, in numbered paragraphs, full and detailed particulars of-

(i) the nature of the claim and of each allegation, assertion or plea comprising that claim;

(ii) the facts constituting the malicious incident to which the claim relates and the circumstances relating to the malicious incident, including the involvement of the plaintiff (or the Garda concerned) therein;

(iii) the injuries to the plaintiff (or the deceased Garda concerned) alleged to have been inflicted as a result of the malicious incident;

(iv) in the case of a claim referred to in section 23(6) of the 2022 Act, the facts and circumstances which it is alleged establish that the claimant or person for whose benefit the claimant is bringing the proceedings is a person to whom compensation may be granted under the 2022 Act and that the claimant or that person was wholly or partly dependent on the deceased person, and

(b) contain a schedule of full particulars of all items of special damage in respect of which the claim is made.

The following is a suggested format in which the indorsement might be presented:

1. Description of the parties, including the defendant’s name and occupation [i.e. Commissioner of An Garda Síochána];

2. The nature of the claim;

3. Details of the malicious incident to which the claim relates, including the involvement of the plaintiff (or the deceased Garda concerned) therein;

4. The injuries to the plaintiff (or the deceased Garda concerned) inflicted as a result of the malicious incident;

5. In a claim referred to in section 23(6) of the 2022 Act, full particulars of the applicability of section 8(2)(b) of the 2022 Act to the claimant or person for whose benefit the claimant is bringing the proceedings and how the claimant or that person was wholly or partly dependent on the deceased Garda concerned;

6. The reliefs sought;

7. (Where appropriate) the particulars required by Order 4, rule 3A.

SCHEDULE

Particulars of Items of Special Damage

(Full particulars should be set out. Add additional sheets if necessary)

(Particulars of a general allegation should be set out in the indorsement under the paragraph containing such allegation and headed “Particulars of ...etc.” Where same are lengthy, they may alternatively be scheduled to the indorsement or set out in additional sheets appended to the Garda Compensation Personal Injuries Summons at time of issue and service.) ]

(Signed) _________

This Garda Compensation Personal Injuries summons was issued by the plaintiff ............

This Garda Compensation Personal Injuries summons was issued by.............., solicitor for the plaintiff, whose registered place of business is............ *and who consents to the service of documents in the proceedings by electronic mail to ...............

The plaintiff’s personal details are as follows:

If the plaintiff consents to the service of documents in the proceedings by electronic mail, state the electronic mail address to which such documents may be sent:

2. Plaintiff’s occupation:

3. Plaintiff’s date of birth: .... Day .... Month ...... Year

4. Plaintiff’s Personal Public Service Number:...................

(If the Plaintiff has not been issued with a Personal Public Service Number, this must be stated) ...........

INDORSEMENT OF SERVICE

This Garda Compensation Personal Injuries summons was served by me at .............. on the defendant ............. on ........ day the ...........day of ............. , 20...

Indorsed the .... day of ............ 20 ...

(Signed)......

(Address)

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Instrument and does not purport to be a legal interpretation.)

These rules amend a number of Orders, in particular Orders 4, 12 and 84 by changing the time for filing an appearance in the High Court to 10 days and extending the requirement to file an appearance to respondents and other parties joined to the proceedings or named in the title who wish to be heard by the Court in proceedings commenced by originating notice of motion or brought by way of judicial review. They also provide for the filing of an appearance for the purpose of contesting jurisdiction.