A historic first for the National State Broadcaster.
RTÉ News and The Courts Service of Ireland have joined together and announced that two Supreme Court judgments will be broadcast on RTÉ News Now on Tuesday 24 October.
Television cameras will be allowed in for the first time to film two judgements handed down by the Supreme Court.
The proceedings will be broadcast on RTÉ News Now and on the RTÉ website with footage also featuring on main TV news bulletins across the day. This will be the first time any recording or transmitting of proceedings in a court case in Ireland will have been permitted.
Following a lengthy discussion process, this new pilot project will allow both organisations to trial the logistics process with a hope of developing it further in the future.
Jon Williams, Managing Director of RTÉ News & Current Affairs, said: “It’s vital that justice is not just done, but is seen to be done. So we welcome the Chief Justice’s decision to allow RTÉ’s cameras into the Supreme Court – and hope it will enable the public to see the way justice is delivered in an even more open and transparent manner than at present.”
The Chief Justice of Ireland, Justice Frank Clarke, stated that the public needed to know what is going on in the court system.
“We are taking the step of televising the judgments of the Supreme Court, as a way of demystifying the courts process. We wish to allow people see how their highest court operates. This will help explain and create an understanding of the courts.
“This is a start and following a test period, we will review the success of same with a view to expanding coverage in the new year. This might include televising the parties making their arguments in the Supreme Court.”
Coverage will begin tomorrow from 9:30am.
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