A change in the law which has given journalists the formal right to access documents of court record in Ireland could have a “significant impact” on the reporting of court hearings, an Irish law firm has said.

New guidelines came into effect this month which give formal provisions for the first time for Irish court staff to disclose documents which have been opened in court, or are deemed to have been opened, to the press.

Statements and submissions to court are among the documents available, but the new rules state that disclosure must be for the purpose of “facilitating the fair and accurate reporting of a hearing in the proceedings to which it relates”.