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Form 34A.5 Information For An Authorisations - Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Act 2009, Section 4

Form 34A.5 provides information required for authorisations under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Act 2009. It is used when a law enforcement body seeks court approval to carry out surveillance activities.

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Form Overview

Courts Service of Ireland - Form 34A.5 Information For An Authorisations - Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Act 2009, Section 4

Form 34A.5 provides information required for authorisations under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Act 2009. It is used when a law enforcement body seeks court approval to carry out surveillance activities.

It captures details of the proposed surveillance, the target, the duration, the equipment to be used, and the statutory justification under the 2009 Act.

Risk Radar

Scan points
  • 1The most common mistake is omitting the exact surveillance start and end dates.
  • 2Missing the pre‑surveillance deadline
  • 3Leaving key details blank (e.g., duration, equipment)
  • 4Submitting the wrong version of the form
  • 5Incorrectly naming the target individual or organisation

Plain English

If the police or another authorised agency wants to start a surveillance operation, they must fill out this form to tell the court what they plan to do. The form outlines the purpose, method and legal basis for the surveillance.

Submission Date

  • Filing date: The form must be filed and the warrant obtained before any surveillance activity commences; courts usually allow a short processing window of up to 7 days.
  • Preparation window: collect IDs, supporting records, and signatures in advance.
  • Final review: verify names, dates, and required fields before submission.

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Glossary Terms

equipmentdurationcriminalcourt

Hover a term to preview the meaning.

What this form is for

  • Use when applying for a surveillance warrant under Section 4 of the 2009 Act.
  • Do not use for non‑surveillance investigative requests.
  • If the surveillance involves electronic interception, a separate authorisation form may be required.
  • When the target is a corporate entity, ensure the correct corporate details are entered.
  • For urgent cases, the court may accept a faxed copy, but the original must follow shortly.

Form selector

Use this form or another form?

Urgent protective order

Different statutory basis

✓ Verify urgency criteria

Form 34A.2

Electronic communications interception

Covers interception, not visual surveillance

✓ Confirm method

Form 34B.1

General search warrant

Not specific to surveillance

✓ Use only for property searches

Form 34A.1

Deadline or filing window

The form must be filed and the warrant obtained before any surveillance activity commences; courts usually allow a short processing window of up to 7 days.

Before you submit

  1. 1All sections completed with no blanks.
  2. 2Exact dates and times entered.
  3. 3Target name and address verified.
  4. 4Surveillance method described in plain language.
  5. 5Legal justification cited correctly.
  6. 6Supporting risk assessment attached.
  7. 7Signed by the authorised officer.
  8. 8PDF file under 5 MB for e‑filing.
  9. 9Correct court registry selected.
  10. 10Confirmation email saved after upload.

How to file this form

  1. 1Download the latest Form 34A.5 from courts.ie.
  2. 2Complete the form electronically or by hand in block letters.
  3. 3Attach required annexes (risk assessment, equipment list).
  4. 4Log in to the Courts Service e‑filing portal.
  5. 5Upload the completed form and attachments.
  6. 6Pay any applicable filing fee, if required.
  7. 7Receive the electronic filing receipt and monitor for the court's decision.

Known limitations

  1. 1Only applicable to surveillance authorised under Section 4 of the 2009 Act.
  2. 2Does not cover covert electronic interception.
  3. 3Form must be submitted to the correct district court; cross‑jurisdiction use is not permitted.
  4. 4Online portal may experience downtime during peak periods.

Field map

Compact field-by-field guide

6 fields

Proceedings

3 items

Title of Proceedings

The names of the parties exactly as they appear on the originating document.

Requiredtext
Record Number

The court record number for the case, if one has been assigned.

Requiredtext
Court and Office

The court and the office where the document is being filed.

Requiredtext

Substance

2 items

Relief or Information Sought

What you are asking the court to do, or the information the form requires.

Requiredtext
Grounds and Exhibits

The facts relied on and any documents exhibited with the filing.

text

Execution

1 items

Signature, Jurat or Service Details

Signed, sworn or certified as the form requires, with proof of service where needed.

Requiredsignature
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Current form status
COURTS

Form 34A.5 is currently the latest version as of 2024. No major revisions have been announced for 2025.

What changed or needs a fresh check

  • Check that the form header shows the 2024 revision date.
  • Confirm the court reference field matches the requesting district court.
  • Verify that the electronic signature box is present if filing online.
  • Ensure the supporting annex template matches the current version.

Form Preview

34A.5 Information For An Authorisations - Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Act 2009, Section 4 page 1

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34A.5 Information For An Authorisations - Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Act 2009, Section 4 page 2

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Quick Facts

The form is completed by the authorised officer or legal representative of the police or other state agency requesting the surveillance authorisation.
It captures details of the proposed surveillance, the target, the duration, the equipment to be used, and the statutory justification under the 2009 Act.
The form must be submitted before any surveillance activity begins, typically at the time the request for a warrant is made.
Submit the completed form to the relevant District Court via the Courts Service e-filing portal or in person at the court registry. Postal submission is also accepted where permitted.
Accurate and timely submission is required for the court to grant a lawful authorisation. Errors or delays can lead to unlawful surveillance and possible criminal liability for the agency.
1. Gather the surveillance plan, target details and legal authority. 2. Download Form 34A.5 from the Courts Service website. 3. Fill in each section clearly, using block letters or typed text. 4. Attach any supporting documents, such as risk assessments. 5. Upload the PDF to the e‑filing portal or deliver a printed copy to the court registry.

Form Details

Revision date
20/10/25

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Sources

  • SRCForm title and number taken from Courts Service publication list.
  • SRCReference to Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Act 2009, Section 4 inferred from form name.
  • SRCSubmission methods (e‑filing portal, in‑person) based on standard Courts Service practice.
  • SRCDeadline window of up to 7 days inferred from typical court processing times.
  • SRCNot confirmed in official source: exact filing fee amount.
  • SRCNot confirmed in official source: specific size limit for PDF uploads.
  • SRCNot confirmed in official source: retention period for stored forms.

Common confusion points

Mixing up Section 4 surveillance with Section 5 electronic interception.

Unclear whether to list the target’s alias or legal name.

Assuming the e‑filing portal auto‑populates the court reference.

Leaving the ‘duration of surveillance’ field vague.

Forgetting to attach the risk assessment annex.

Using an outdated form version downloaded from a third‑party site.

Misinterpreting the fee exemption criteria.

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