The Civil Liability and Courts Act 2004 reforms personal‑injury litigation by shortening limitation periods to two years from accrual or date of knowledge, creating a prescribed personal‑injuries summons with mandatory particulars and verifying affidavits, and strengthening disclosure. It promotes early resolution through mediation conferences, pre‑trial hearings, formal offers and court‑appointed experts, permits evidence by affidavit, and introduces criminal sanctions and civil consequences (including dismissal) for false or misleading evidence. It also addresses collateral gifts and undeclared income in damages assessment.

The Act modernises court administration: it authorises realisation of dormant funds of suitors and limited transfer to the Exchequer for court buildings with indemnity arrangements; establishes registers for personal‑injuries actions and suitors' funds; permits prescribed reporting or disclosure of otherwise private proceedings; increases judicial numbers; and implements technical reforms (eg replacing ‘rateable valuation’ with ‘market value’ and raising thresholds to €3,000,000), and updates procedures such as electronic summons transmission.