Ivor Callely
Question:350 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the progress, if any, made by the Court Service Office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14992/99]
Vol. 506 No. 2
350 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the progress, if any, made by the Court Service Office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14992/99]
The Deputy will be aware that our courts system is now undergoing the most fundamental change since the foundation of the State. On 16 April 1998, the Courts Service Act was enacted and one month later the courts service transitional board was established. The function of the transitional board is to make preparations for the establishment of the courts service and, in this regard, I appointed a chief executive designate in January of this year. The transitional board is, in conjunction with my Department, actively involved in making the necessary arrangements for the establishment of the courts service.
The Courts Service Act provides that I shall, by order, appoint the establishment day for the courts service and I expect to make such an order in the autumn. I am, indeed, pleased to inform the House that a significant step towards the establishment of the courts service has taken place recently, when a number of the staff of my Department moved to new offices in Conyngham Road, which will be location of the courts service headquarters.
I am informed that the structures which are now being put in place will allow the courts service to meet the demands placed on it in the new millennium and enable it to provide a first class service to judges, practitioners, court staff and most importantly of course, the users of the system.