I beg to move that this Bill be now read a second time. This Bill is short and simple, and very necessary. It is a temporary Bill, its object being simply to see that no technical difficulties shall prevent the present County Courts from proceeding with their functions, pending the re-organisation of the Judicial system under the Bill that is at present before the Dáil. Section 1 provides that a Court may be held anywhere in a particular county and not necessarily at what was the Statutory court of assembly. The necessity for this arises from the fact that many courthouses throughout the country are in ruins, or otherwise unfit for use. Section 2 gives to the Judge discretion to waive the usual formalities with regard to the service of documents, summonses, etc., provided he is satisfied that the service was, in fact, effective. Deputies will understand that, in some areas through the country, it has not been possible to serve documents of that kind personally. On the Committee Stage of this Bill I will ask for permission to insert a Section to get over another difficulty arising out of the fact that Jury Lists, in some counties, are out of date. Section 3 of the Bill is merely a definition Section, and Section 4 gives the period, or the lifetime, of the Bill. The Act shall be deemed to come into force on, and shall have effect as on and from the 1st day of September, 1923, and the Act shall continue in force until the 31st day of August, 1924, and shall then expire. I now beg to move that the Bill be read a second time.
TUARASGABHAIL I DTAOBH CUR AMACH RITEACH I GCOIR BAILE ATHA CLIATH THEAS. - COUNTY COURTS (AMENDMENT) BILL, 1923.—SECOND STAGE.
I second the motion.
Question put: "That the County Courts (Amendment) Bill, 1923, be read a second time."
Agreed.
Committee Stage ordered for Tuesday, 16th October, 1923.