The Courts Service is governed by a Board consisting of a Chairperson and seventeen other members.
Functions of the Board
The function of the Board is to:
- consider and determine policy in relation to the Service; and
- oversee the implementation of that policy by the Chief Executive Officer.
Courts Service Board Membership
| Member | Role on the Board |
|---|---|
| The Hon. Ms. Justice Aileen Donnelly | Judge of the Supreme Court and Chairperson of the Board |
| The Hon. Ms. Justice Caroline Costello | President of the Court of Appeal |
| The Hon. Mr. Justice David Barniville | President of the High Court |
| The Hon. Mr. Justice Seamus Woulfe | Elected by the ordinary Judges of the Supreme Court |
| The Hon. Ms. Justice Tara Burns | Elected by the ordinary Judges of the Court of Appeal |
| The Hon. Mr. Justice Tony O'Connor | Elected by the ordinary Judges of the High Court |
| The Hon. Mr. Justice Keenan Johnson | President of the Circuit Court |
| Vacancy | Elected by the ordinary Judges of the Circuit Court |
| His Honour Judge Paul Kelly | President of the District Court |
| Judge Alan Mitchell | Elected by the Judges of the District Court |
| Ms. Angela Denning | Chief Executive Officer of the Courts Service |
| Mr. Sean Guerin | Nominee of the Bar Council of Ireland |
| Mr. Stuart Gilhooly | Nominee of the Law Society of Ireland |
| Mr. Derek Bunyan | Elected by the staff of the Courts Service |
| Ms. Rachel Woods | Official of the Department of Justice nominated by the Minister |
| Ms. Sarah Benson | Nominated by the Minister to represent consumers of the services provided by the Courts |
| Mr. Owen Reidy, General Secretary | Nominated by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions |
| Vacancy | Member to be nominated by the Minister |
Committees
The Board has established a number of committees which support it in carrying out its functions:
- Finance Committee
- Building Committee
- Family Law Court Development Committee
- Audit and Risk Committee
- Modernisation Committee
Further information on the Board and its committees is set out in the Courts Service Governance Framework 2023 (Word).
Board governance
The following documents set out the structure, composition, remit, powers, authority, membership and operating procedures of the Board, and the standards expected of members:
Board meetings
The Courts Service Board usually schedules five to six meetings each year. Additional meetings are arranged as required. A note of matters considered and decisions made at each meeting is published below.
Minutes by year
2026
- 20 April — Minutes (Word)
- 25 March (special meeting) — Minutes (Word)
- 23 February — Minutes (Word)
- 26 January — Minutes (Word)
2025
- 15 December — Minutes (Word)
- 3 November — Minutes (Word)
- 25 September — Minutes (Word)
- 21 July — Minutes (Word)
- 26 May — Minutes (Word)
- 7 April — Minutes (Word)
- 24 February — Minutes (Word)
- 27 January — Minutes (Word)
2024
- 9 December — Minutes (Word)
- 4 November — Minutes (Word)
- 26 September — Minutes (PDF)
- 15 July — Minutes (Word)
- 13 May — Minutes (Word)
- 24 April (special meeting) — Minutes (Word)
- 8 April — Minutes (Word)
- 26 February — Minutes (Word)
- 22 January — Minutes (Word)
2023
- 11 December — Minutes (Word)
- 6 November — Minutes (PDF)
- 25 September — Minutes (PDF)
- 17 July — Minutes (PDF)
- 22 May — Minutes (Word)
- 27 March — Minutes (Word)
- 27 February — Minutes (PDF)
- 23 January — Minutes (PDF)
2022
- 12 December — Minutes (PDF)
- 7 November — Minutes (PDF)
- 26 September — Minutes (PDF)
- 18 July — Minutes (PDF)
- 13 June — Minutes (PDF)
- 14 March — Minutes (PDF)
- 28 February — Minutes (PDF)
- 17 January — Minutes (PDF)
2021
- 6 December — Minutes (PDF)
- 1 November — Minutes (PDF)
- 27 September — Minutes (PDF)
- 19 July — Minutes (PDF)
- 1 June — Minutes (PDF)
- 22 February — Minutes (PDF)
- 18 January — Minutes (PDF)
2020
- 7 December — Minutes (PDF)
- 2 November — Minutes (PDF)
- 20 October — Minutes (PDF)
- 22 June — Minutes (PDF)
- 28 April — Minutes (PDF)
- 3 February — Minutes (PDF)
2019
- 9 December — Minutes (PDF)
- 14 October — Minutes (PDF)
- 26 June — Minutes (PDF)
- 8 April — Minutes (PDF)
- 4 February — Minutes (PDF)
- 14 January — Minutes (PDF)
2018
- 10 December — Minutes (PDF)
- 15 October — Minutes (PDF)
- 25 June — Minutes (PDF)
- 23 April — Minutes (PDF)
- 5 February — Minutes (PDF)
2017
- 11 December — Minutes (PDF)
- 9 October — Minutes (PDF)
- 26 June — Minutes (PDF)
- 3 April — Minutes (PDF)
- 6 February — Minutes (PDF)
- 16 January — Minutes (PDF)
2016
- 12 December — Minutes (PDF)
- 17 October — Minutes (PDF)
- 27 June — Minutes (PDF)
- 11 April — Minutes (PDF)
