Extending Covid-19 related provisions that enable wider and extended use of video and audio live links in courts and tribunals in Northern Ireland

New statutory rule extends provisions for six months to 24 March 2023

New regulations have been issued in Northern Ireland that extend Covid-19-related measures that allow for the wider and extended use of video and audio live links in courts and tribunals in the region.

Made on 23 September 2022, the Coronavirus Act 2020 (Extension of Provisions Relating to Live Links for Courts and Tribunals) Order (Northern Ireland) 2022 (SR.No.227/2022) extends the operation of provisions in the Coronavirus Act 2020 which allow greater use of video or audio live links by all or any courts or a statutory tribunal (under Part 1 of Schedule 27 to the 2020 Act) for a six month period until 24 March 2023.

NB - the order is the second to be made in relation to these provisions using powers within the 2020 Act designed to accommodate an extended pandemic situation beyond the initial proposed two year period ending on 24 March 2022. The first extension, under SR.No.24/2022, extended the provisions from 24 March 2022 to 24 September 2022.

In addition, the new regulation apply the same extension to provisions which facilitate public participation in legal proceedings if, and when, live links are used, while also protecting those proceedings from unauthorised recordings or transmission (Part 2 of Schedule 27).

SR.No.227/2022 is available from legislation.gov.uk