National contacts

Law Enforcement Agencies

IP crime investigations fall under the competence of the Intellectual Property & Counterfeit Investigations Unit of the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, which is part of Ireland’s National Police and Security Service.

Prosecution

The prosecution of IP crimes falls under the competence of the Public Prosecutor’s Offices.

There is no unit in the Public Prosecution Office specialised in prosecuting IP crimes.

Judiciary

There are no courts specialised in IP crime. This type of crime falls under the general court system.

The general courts are organised in a three-tier system:

• Circuit Courts and District Courts organised on a regional basis;
• High Court and Court of Appeals; and
• The Supreme Court.

Judicial libraries

AN TSEIRBHÍS CHÚIRTEANNA (COURT SERVICE)

Public and free database. No registration is required.

Judgments | The Courts Service of Ireland

Selected judgments from:

• District Courts (1st instance)
• Circuit Courts (1st and 2nd instance)
• Central Criminal Court (1st and 2nd instance)
• High Court (1st and 2nd instance)
• Court of Appeal (2nd instance)
• Supreme Court (3rd instance)

Other available resources:

• information on the practices and procedures of the courts
• Courts Service Annual Report
• court sitting dates

IRLII

Public and free database. No registration is required.

Irish Legal Information Initiative

Selected judgments from:

• District Courts (1st instance)
• Circuit Courts (1st and 2nd instance)
• Central Criminal Court (1st and 2nd instance)
• High Court (1st and 2nd instance)
• Court of Appeal (2nd instance)
• Supreme Court (3rd instance)

Other available resources:

• list of law journals and book chapters
• texts of national legislation