The Courts

The Constitution of Ireland specifies that the Courts shall comprise of Courts of First Instance, a Court of Appeal and a Court of Final Appeal. It further specifies that the Courts of First Instance shall include a High Court invested with full original jurisdiction in and power to determine all matters and questions whether of law or fact, civil or criminal.

The Court of Final Appeal is the Supreme Court which, subject to certain specific exceptions, has appellate jurisdiction only.

The Constitution also provides for the establishment of courts of local and limited jurisdiction. The Circuit Court, The District Court (including the Children Court ).

The Special Criminal Court, the Court of Appeal and the Courts-Martial Appeal Court are courts of local and/or limited jurisdiction.