Section 22 of the Act of 1961 is amended by the insertion of the following subsections after subsection 15:

"(16) In the interests of the administration of justice and the determination of proceedings in a manner which is just, expeditious and likely to minimise the cost of those proceedings -

(a) the President of the Circuit Court, or

(b) any other judge of the Circuit Court as may be nominated for that purpose by the President of the Circuit Court,

may, subject to any practice direction issued under subsection (17), make any order or give any direction he or she thinks appropriate in relation to the conduct of proceedings before the Circuit Court.

(17) The President of the Circuit Court may, in the interests of the administration of justice and the determination of proceedings in a manner which is just, expeditious and likely to minimise the cost of those proceedings, issue directions (in this section referred to as 'practice directions') in relation to the conduct of proceedings before the Circuit Court.

(18) A practice direction may relate to -

(a) civil or criminal proceedings, or both, or

(b) a class or classes of civil or criminal proceedings, or both,

and may make provision for such incidental, supplementary and consequential matters, including in respect of a failure to comply with any matter provided for in a direction, as appear to the President of the Circuit Court to be necessary or expedient for the purposes of the direction.