A v Minister for Children and Education

This judgment contains my written reasons in relation to various directions I issued following a contested directions hearing.

The background to this dispute is set out in my previous decision in this matter dated 8 th February 2021 reported at A v Minister for Social Services [2021] JRC 036 . I adopt paragraphs 2 and 3 of that judgment for ease of reference.

Notwithstanding the stay granted by that judgment, the matter has not settled as a result of which a further directions hearing became necessary. The possibility of this was foreshadowed in my previous judgment at paragraph 26 where I stated as follows: -

The particular issues I had to resolve at the latest directions hearing are as follows: -

(ii) Whether directions are needed for the exchange of witness statements of fact;