A. INTRODUCTION
Order 16 of the Superior Courts Rules requires a party wishing
to serve a Third-Party Notice to obtain leave from the High
Court. Section 27(1)(b) of the Civil Liability Act 1961
stipulates that when seeking leave to serve a Third-Party Notice, a
party 'must do so as soon as is reasonably
possible'. Uncertainty often arises in relation to the
interpretation of the phrase 'as soon as is reasonably
possible'.
A recent Court of Appeal decision of Judge Barrett in
Andre O'Connor v Coras Pipeline Services
Limited1 helpfully
restated and summarised some of the key guiding principles in
relation to both the joinder of Third Parties, and subsequent
applications to set aside the joinder of Third Parties on the
grounds of delay.