asked the Minister for Justice whether his attention has been drawn to the serious delays which are taking place in the Dublin Circuit Courts; whether he is aware of the inconvenience and losses which are accruing to business men and others by reason of the delay in the recovery of debts, and what steps he is taking to deal with the matter.
CEISTEANNA.—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - DUBLIN CIRCUIT COURT DELAYS.
My attention has been drawn to the state of business in the Circuit Court for the County and City of Dublin, and I am aware that there has been some delay in the disposal of civil actions which have been listed for hearing in that Court, as a result of the regrettable illness of the Circuit Court Judge and the Assistant Circuit Judge. Assistant Circuit Court Judge Roche was transferred from Circuit No. 3 to the Dublin Circuit on Monday last. Accordingly there are now three Judges assigned to this Circuit, and it is hoped that they will be able to dispose of the arrears of work within the next few months. Should this not prove to be the case, I shall take whatever additional steps may be necessary to deal with the arrears and to prevent a further accumulation of business in the Dublin Court.
Might I draw the attention of the Minister to the fact that not alone is the congestion very serious in the Circuit Court, but it is equally serious in the Appeal Court from the Circuit Court?
That is a separate matter, I am afraid.
I will put it this way: Is the Minister aware of the serious congestion and delay in the Appeal Court from the Circuit Court, as well as the Circuit Court?
That is really a separate question. If the Deputy would put down a question on it I will answer him. It does not arise directly out of this question.
They are both part of the same system.
Everything is part of the same system.
Is the Minister aware that what is happening is this: As soon as a decision is reached in the Circuit Court after a long delay, then the debtor gives notice of appeal. The matter then possibly does not come before the Court of Appeal for another four or five months, and in the meantime the debtor has absconded?
The Deputy did not frame his question to cover that.