Coronavirus Act 2020 Live Links Order Extended to September 2026

UK New Legislation

Published March 16th, 2026

Detected March 18th, 2026

Summary

The Department of Justice in Northern Ireland has made an order extending the provisions of the Coronavirus Act 2020 related to live links for courts and tribunals. These provisions will now remain in effect until September 24, 2026.

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What changed

The Department of Justice has issued an order extending the operation of provisions within the Coronavirus Act 2020 that permit the use of live audio-visual links in courts and tribunals. This extension, outlined in The Coronavirus Act 2020 (Extension of Provisions Relating to Live Links for Courts and Tribunals) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026, pushes the expiry date of these provisions from March 24, 2026, to September 24, 2026.

This rule change impacts the operational procedures for courts and tribunals in Northern Ireland, allowing for the continued use of live link technology for proceedings. While this is an extension of existing provisions, legal professionals and court administrators should be aware of the new expiry date to ensure continued compliance with procedural rules regarding remote participation and the protection of proceedings from unauthorized recording.

What to do next

Note the extended expiry date of September 24, 2026, for live link provisions under the Coronavirus Act 2020.
Ensure court and tribunal procedures continue to align with the extended operational period for live link technology.

Source document (simplified)

Status:

This is the original version (as it was originally made). This item of legislation is currently only available in its original format.

Order made by the Department of Justice and laid before the Assembly under section 96(2) of the Coronavirus Act 2020 for approval of the Assembly before the expiration of 40 days from the day on which it is made.

Statutory Rules of Northern Ireland

2026 No. 55

Justice

Livelinks

The Coronavirus Act 2020 (Extension of Provisions Relating to Live Links for Courts and Tribunals) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026

Made

16th March 2026

The Department of Justice(1) makes the following Order in exercise of the powers conferred by section 90(2) of the Coronavirus Act 2020(2).

Citation

This Order may be cited as the Coronavirus Act 2020 (Extension of Provisions Relating to Live Links for Courts and Tribunals) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026.

Extension of expiry date

Parts 1 and 2 of Schedule 27 to the Coronavirus Act 2020, and section 57 of that Act so far as it relates to those Parts, do not expire at the time when they would otherwise expire and expire instead on 24th September 2026.

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Justice on 16th March 2026

Naomi Long

Minister of Justice

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order extends the operation of the provisions in the Coronavirus Act 2020 (c. 7) which allow the wider and extended use of video or audio live links by all or any courts or a statutory tribunal (Part 1 of Schedule 27). It extends the provisions, which facilitate public participation in legal proceedings if, and when live links are used while protecting those proceedings from unauthorised recordings or transmission (Part 2 of Schedule 27).

The Coronavirus Act 2020 (Extension of Provisions Relating to Live Links for Courts and Tribunals) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025 (SR.2025 No.151) extended the operation of these provisions until 24th March 2026.

Article 2 extends the operation of the provisions until 24th September 2026.

(1) 2010 c. 3 (N.I.), s. 1(1).

(2) 2020 c. 7.