1.LEGAL SYSTEM
1.1 Legal System and Judicial Order
The judicial system in Ireland is established by the
Constitution, the principal courts being the district courts and
circuit courts (with limited jurisdiction), the High Court (with
unlimited jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters), the Court of
Appeal (with appellate jurisdiction) and the Supreme Court (which
usually exercises final appellate jurisdiction only). The judiciary
is independent of the legislature and the executive.
Ireland is a member state of the EU and the United Nations. The
Irish legal system is similar in many respects to that of the UK
and the US. Irish law is based upon common law, statute and the
Constitution of Ireland. The EU also represents an important source
of Irish law and decisions of the Court of Justice of the European
Union (CJEU) exercise significant influence over Irish law.
