A new regulatory framework governing the use of generative artificial intelligence in civil proceedings before the Irish High Court officially entered into operation on September 1, 2026. Practice Direction HC142, issued by High Court President Mr Justice David Barniville, establishes mandatory human verification requirements and procedural standards for legal documents submitted to the court.

The directive applies across all civil litigation filings, including pleadings, written submissions, affidavits, witness statements, and expert reports. While the High Court recognized that generative AI tools can assist in the efficient conduct of litigation and support access to justice, it specified that all AI-assisted content must be independently verified under direct human supervision. The direction explicitly clarifies that verifying AI-generated output using another AI system does not satisfy the requirement for human oversight.

Under Practice Direction HC142, parties, legal practitioners, witnesses, and experts remain strictly responsible for the accuracy and legal integrity of their filings. The guidance highlights risks associated with generative AI tools, including hallucinations, fabricated legal precedents, factual inaccuracies, potential confidentiality breaches, and the inadvertent waiver of legal privilege. Additionally, affidavits and witness statements must include declarations confirming that AI was not used to draft or rephrase substantive evidence, though administrative functions such as formatting and spell-checking remain permitted. Expert reports must similarly contain declarations confirming that opinions represent the expert's own independent reasoning while disclosing any substantive reliance on AI technology.

Failure to comply with the directive carries significant procedural and regulatory consequences. The High Court warned that non-compliance may lead to judicial sanctions, including adverse costs orders, the rejection or striking out of pleadings, or the referral of legal professionals to the Legal Services Regulatory Authority or their respective professional bodies.