The Bar Council has launched a new website this afternoon that will give the general public limited access to the Law Library and Dublin International Arbitration Centre.
According to the Minister for Justice, Mr John O’Donoghue, the new website is the latest step in updating the Courts Service with new technologies, a process that has cost IR15 million so far and which began three years ago.
The Courts Service has also published a five year Information Technology Plan designed to upgrade and introduce new systems which will enable the Courts to implement Government policy on the delivery of public services to court users electronically.
"There is a growing recognition throughout the legal and judicial areas that enormous gains can be made through the effective use of information technology," Mr O’ Donoghue said at the launch of the site.
"This is best exemplified by the redevelopment of the Courts Service website, online access to the Legal Diary and the ongoing development of a Courts Tracking system."
The Bar Council has also provided an online database of its members, accessible to all. This is a new concept enabling the general public to make direct contact with members of the Bar both inside and outside the Law Library.
"Access by the public to. . .the Bar Council is clearly enhanced by this comprehensive database," Mr O’ Donoghue added.
"These websites will make the services of the Bar Council more readily accessible and provide a very practical reference service for both members and the general public, alike."
Mr O’ Donoghue also said that he hoped the inclusion of a site for the Dublin Arbitration Centre would see the development of Dublin as an international arbitration centre.
"As the UNCITRAL Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration, which was adopted into Irish Law in 1998, now applies in nearly 30 other countries world-wide, Ireland is well placed to become a major centre for international arbitration," he said.
"The website will help to attract business to the centre from both Ireland and internationally."