Dekra Eireann Teo v Minister of Environment, 2 IR 270; 2 ILRM 210; IESC 25 is an Irish Supreme Court case in which it was decided that the earliest opportunity to apply for a review of a decision made by the court arises within the three-month period after the decision is made, and that courts have no power to extend that time. The Court held that a key feature of both European law and court rules is the policy of urgency.Dekra Eireann Teo v Minister of Environment, 2 IR 270; 2 ILRM 210; IESC 25Law Reform Commission Consultation Paper in Judicial Review Procedure LRC CP 20- 2003 para 1.49 https://www.lawreform.ie/_fileupload/consultation%20papers/cjpudicialReview.htm
Background
Facts of case Bidding for the National Car Test (NCT) system in Ireland opened in the late 1990s. In 1998 Noel Dempsey, then Minister of Environment and Local Government, award the contract to SGS Ireland ltd. Dekra, which had not been awarded the contract, issued judicial review proceedings against the Minister in March 1999 to challenge the decision.Dekra Eireann Teo v Minister of Environment, 2 IR 270; 2 ILRM 210; IESC 25 para 12
High Court In response SGS Ltd in June 1999, sought to strike out Dekra's proceedings for judicial review on the grounds that Dekra had not complied with three-month time limit prescribed under court rules. The High Court refused SGS application and exercised its discretion in favor for extending the time limit. This resulted in both SGS and the Minister appealing the High Court decision to the Supreme Court.Dekra v Minister for the Environment and Local Government - 2 IR 270 - 2 ILRM 210Annual Review of Irish Law 2007, 21(1), 46-84
Holding of the Supreme Court The Supreme Court over-ruled the High Court and allowed the appeal from SGS and The Minister for Environment and Local Government.(Denham J); Dekra Eireann Teo v Minister of Environment, 2 IR 270; 2 ILRM 210; IESC 25 para 4-5
Denham J stated it was clear that grounds for Dekra's application for leave to take judicial review proceedings existed by December 14 after the debriefing meeting and therefore the time for bringing the application ran from that date. However, Dekra did not issue proceedings until March 25, 1999, in turn failing to comply with the three month time limit in court rules.Dekra Eireann Teo v Minister of Environment, 2 IR 270; 2 ILRM 210; IESC 25 para 82Rules of the Superior Courts (No. 4) (Review of the Award of Public Contracts) 1998 IR SI 374/1998Order 84A, Rule 4 of the Rules of the Superior Court, 1986
Fennelly J also commented stating in litigation involving disputes between well-resourced corporate undertaking "there should be very little excuse for delay".Dekra Eireann Teo v Minister of Environment, 2 IR 270; 2 ILRM 210; IESC 25 para 96Annual Review of Irish Law 2012, 26(1), 422
Subsequent developments The decision of this case was subsequently followed and approved in the supreme court case of O' Brien v Moriarty O' Brien v Moriarty IESC 32, 2 IR 221 where Denham J remained of the view she expressed in this case.O' Brien v Moriarty IESC 32, 2 IR 221 para c
See also Judicial review in the Republic of Ireland
Administration (law)
Constitution of Ireland
External links Dekra Eireann Teo v Minister of Environment, 2 IR 270; 2 ILRM 210; IESC 25 at https://www.bailii.org/ie/cases/IESC/2003/21.html Law Reform Commission Consultation Paper in Judicial Review Procedure LRC CP 20- 2003
References