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Supreme Court
The Supreme Court is the court of final appeal in Ireland and consists of the Chief Justice and seven ordinary judges. The President of the High Court is by virtue of their office, an additional Judge of the Supreme Court. The decision of the court is by majority although in many cases each individual judge may deliver separate judgments. In a decision on a question on the validity of a law having regard to the Constitution, only one judgement is delivered. The Supreme Court has the power to hear appeals from all decisions of the High Court. It may hear an appeal from the Court of Criminal Appeal if that court or the Attorney General certifies that the decision involves a legal point of exceptional public interest. The Supreme Court may also give a ruling on a question of law submitted to it by the Circuit Court.
Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction is not limited in any way. Typically however in actions for dameges where a point of law arises, the Supreme Court will rule and often refers the case back to the High Court for judgement. This is because there are often many other factors to be considered in addition to the particular point of law.
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