50A.—(1) In this section—

"Court", where used without qualification, means the High Court (but this definition shall not be construed as meaning that subsections (2) to (6) and (9) do not extend to and govern the exercise by the Supreme Court of jurisdiction on any appeal that may be made);

"Order" shall be construed in accordance with section 50;

"section 50 leave" means leave to apply for judicial review under the Order in respect of a decision or other act to which section 50(2) applies.

F466[(2) (a) An application for section 50 leave shall be made by motion ex parte and shall be grounded in the manner specified in the Order in respect of an ex parte motion for leave.

(b) The Court hearing the ex parte application for leave may decide, having regard to the issues arising, the likely impact of the proceedings on the respondent or another party, or for other good and sufficient reason, that the application for leave should be conducted on an inter partes basis and may adjourn the application on such terms as it may direct in order that a notice may be served on that person.

(c) If the Court directs that the leave hearing is to be conducted on an inter partes basis it shall be by motion on notice (grounded in the manner specified in the Order in respect of an ex parte motion for leave)—

(i) if the application relates to a decision made or other act done by a planning authority or local authority in the performance or purported performance of a function under this Act, to the authority concerned and, in the case of a decision made or other act done by a planning authority on an application for permission, to the applicant for the permission where he or she is not the applicant for leave,

(ii) if the application relates to a decision made or other act done by the Board on an appeal or referral, to the Board and each party or each other party, as the case may be, to the appeal or referral,

(iii) if the application relates to a decision made or other act done by the Board on an application for permission or approval, to the Board and to the applicant for the permission or approval where he or she is not the applicant for leave,

(iv) if the application relates to a decision made or other act done by the Board or a local authority in the performance or purported performance of a function referred to in section 50(2)(b) or (c), to the Board or the local authority concerned, and

(v) to any other person specified for that purpose by order of the High Court.

(d) The Court may—

(i) on the consent of all of the parties, or

(ii) where there is good and sufficient reason for so doing and it is just and equitable in all the circumstances,

treat the application for leave as if it were the hearing of the application for judicial review and may for that purpose adjourn the hearing on such terms as it may direct.]

(3) The Court shall not grant section 50 leave unless it is satisfied that—

(a) there are substantial grounds for contending that the decision or act concerned is invalid or ought to be F467[quashed,]

(b) (i) the applicant has a F468[sufficient interest] in the matter which is the subject of the application, or

(ii) where the decision or act concerned relates to a development identified in or under regulations made under section 176, for the time being in force, as being development which may have significant effects on the environment, the applicant—

(I) is a body or organisation (other than a State authority, a public authority or governmental body or agency) the aims or objectives of which relate to the promotion of environmental protection,

(II) has, during the period of 12 months preceding the date of the application, pursued those aims or objectives, and

(III) satisfies such requirements (if any) as a body or organisation, if it were to make an appeal under section 37(4)(c), would have to satisfy by virtue of section 37(4)(d)(iii) (and, for this purpose, any requirement prescribed under section 37(4)(e)(iv) shall apply as if the reference in it to the class of matter into which the decision, the subject of the appeal, falls were a reference to the class of matter into which the decision or act, the subject of the application for section 50 leave, F467[falls), and]

F469[(c) the applicant has exhausted any available appeal procedures or any other administrative remedy available to him or her in respect of the decision or act concerned.]

(4) A F468[sufficient interest] for the purposes of subsection (3)(b)(i) is not limited to an interest in land or other financial interest.

(5) If the court grants section 50 leave, no grounds shall be relied upon in the application for judicial review under the Order other than those determined by the Court to be substantial under subsection (3)(a).

(6) The Court may, as a condition for granting section 50 leave, require the applicant for such leave to give an undertaking as to damages.

(7) The determination of the Court of an application for section 50 leave or of an application for judicial review on foot of such leave shall be final and no appeal shall lie from the decision of the Court to the Supreme Court in either case save with leave of the Court which leave shall only be granted where the Court certifies that its decision involves a point of law of exceptional public importance and that it is desirable in the public interest that an appeal should be taken to the Supreme Court.

(8) Subsection (7) shall not apply to a determination of the Court in so far as it involves a question as to the validity of any law having regard to the provisions of the Constitution.

(9) If an application is made for judicial review under the Order in respect of part only of a decision or other act to which section 50(2) applies, the Court may, if it thinks fit, declare to be invalid or quash the part concerned or any provision thereof without declaring invalid or quashing the remainder of the decision or other act or part of the decision or other act, and if the Court does so, it may make any consequential amendments to the remainder of the decision or other act or the part thereof that it considers appropriate.

F469[(9A) If, on an application for judicial review under the Order, the Court decides to quash a decision or other act to which section 50(2) applies, made or done on an application for permission or approval, the Court shall, if requested by the applicant for permission or approval, remit the matter to the planning authority, the local authority or the Board, as may be appropriate, for reconsideration, subject to such directions as the Court considers appropriate, unless the Court considers, having regard to the circumstances of the case, that it would not be lawful to do so.]

(10) The Court shall, in determining F470[an application for section 50 leave, an application for judicial review on foot of such leave or an application for leave under subsection (7)], act as expeditiously as possible consistent with the administration of justice.

(11) On an appeal from a determination of the Court in respect of an application referred to in subsection (10), the Supreme Court shall—

(a) have jurisdiction to determine only the point of law certified by the Court under subsection (7) (and to make only such order in the proceedings as follows from such determination), and

(b) in determining the appeal, act as expeditiously as possible consistent with the administration of justice.

(12) Rules of court may make provision for the expeditious hearing of applications for section 50 leave and applications for judicial review on foot of such leave.]

F471[(13) For the avoidance of doubt, where—

(a) the Court has granted leave to appeal its decision in accordance with subsection (7), or

(b) an appeal has been brought to the Court of Appeal in accordance with subsection (8),

any party to the appeal may, at any time thereafter prior to the determination of such appeal, without any prior application to the Court of Appeal, apply to the Supreme Court under Article 34.5.4° of the Constitution to determine the appeal.

(14) Where the Supreme Court grants an application referred to in subsection (13), the Court of Appeal shall, in respect of the proceedings before it in relation to the appeal, provide by order for the discontinuance of those proceedings, which order of discontinuance shall be confined to the grounds upon which the Supreme Court granted leave to appeal, whether or not any application in relation to the appeal has been made to the Court of Appeal.

(15) The Supreme Court shall act as expeditiously as possible consistent with the administration of justice in determining any application referred to in subsection (13) and, where the Supreme Court grants the application, any appeal.]