The In Camera Rule: A Barrier to Transparency or a Necessity in Irish Family Law

The purpose of the in camera rule is to protect the privacy of the parties to a court hearing, as family law matters invariably involve intimate details of the parties personal lives. This article will examine the in camera rule and, in particular, the influence of s. 40(3) of the Civil Liability and Courts Act 2004 (the 2004 Act) which permits certain categories of persons to attend family courts. The article will explore the family law courts in New Zealand and the United Kingdom since the relaxation of the rules on reporting, and comment on observations made by the author while visiting open family court in Australia.