For the first time ever the courts in Ireland will sit this morning with all parties being present via remote video technology. 

The Supreme Court will have a short hearing this morning, piloting 'remote court' technology.

Screens

The Supreme Court will display the sittings on screens for court reporters. This morning’s is a short case management hearing.

This will add to the other social distancing measures introduced by the courts in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Other courts will roll out the technology in suitable cases in the coming days and weeks. 

Initiatives

And initiatives to organise future court hearings via social distancing planning will continue and expand in the coming weeks, a Courts Service spokesman confirmed.

And a protocol is being finalised for allowing bone fide members of the press remotely link into such hearings as observers – acting as the eyes and ears of the public. 

Following initial pilots this week in the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal is also beginning hearings later this morning.

App

A virtual meeting room (VMR) will be set up for each court sitting, using a video streaming app called PEXIP. This is an industry leader in inter-operability.

Parties can join a PEXIP VMR session from other video streaming services, including Skype, Zoom, Cisco Webex, Teams etc. without the requirement that all parties use either the same app or a managed integration tool to connect.

The in-court hardware is that which is usually used for video-link to prisons and video conference with remote witnesses.