The Courts Service does not provide stenography services in Circuit or District Court civil cases. Stenography is provided only in criminal jury trials where an appeal may be taken to the Court of Criminal Appeal where a transcript of the evidence would be required. This consideration does not arise in civil cases in the Circuit or District Courts since appeals from those courts involve a rehearing of the case in the High Court or Circuit Court, respectively.
The procedure in the High Court is prescribed by Order 123 of the Rules of the Superior Courts. This provides that a party may apply to the judge for an order that the proceedings be reported by a shorthand writer and the judge shall appoint a shorthand writer to take a note of the proceedings. The party applying for the appointment of a stenographer shall bear the cost unless the judge shall after the trial certify that in his or her opinion it was expedient that the proceedings should have been reported. In that case, the remuneration of the shorthand writer shall be part of the costs of the cause.
Of course, the order made by any court in a family law matter is recorded in writing and is available to the parties.