Every solicitors' office must now maintain a register of everyone entering their business premises.

A new practice direction for solicitors obliges all those engaged in the administration of justice, from today, to record 'track and trace' information.

The notice applies to the solicitor on record for any party to an application or corporeal hearing in the Circuit Court or the High Court.

Consent

Consent should be obtained for the retention of data and its delivery to the HSE.

The solicitor concerned is also obliged to keep such information safe and available for four weeks.

Thereafter, the data should be safely disposed of, in line with data privacy regulations.

Law Society President Michele O’Boyle has said in a bulletin to the profession that ‘track and trace’ has proved to be an effective management strategy to reduce the number of COVID-19 transmissions.

Public interest 

President O’Boyle urged ‘rigid compliance’ in the public interest.

President of the District Court, Mr Justice Colin Daly, meanwhile, has also issued a Practice Direction to Dublin Metropolitan District, District 13 Limerick city and county, and District 19 Cork city, urging swift adaptation of the new regime.

The Law Society President also this morning urged all provincial District Court practitioners to adopt the new measures.

The new practice direction is effective from 31 August 2020.