asked the Minister for Justice if he is aware of the great hardships entailed on jurors resident in West Wicklow in having to attend at Wicklow Town in discharge of their duties as jurors, and if he will make arrangements to hold sittings of the Circuit Court at Baltinglass for the disposal of business from West Wicklow.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - JURORS IN WEST WICKLOW.
I am not aware that the fact that sittings of the Circuit Court are held in Wicklow Town has resulted in undue hardship on jurors who are resident in West Wicklow. I am aware, however, that jurors both in West Wicklow and throughout the country generally have a disinclination to leave their own districts to attend courts elsewhere, and that it would be more convenient for them if they had not to do so. From this angle the existing arrangements may not be perfect, but they are the best that can be made having regard to the interests of efficiency and economy. I should add that it is the function of the Rule-making Authority for the Circuit Court to prescribe the places where court sittings shall be held, but I cannot hold out any hope to the Deputy that the town of Baltinglass will be one of the places prescribed by the Rules.
Is the Minister aware that jurors from West Wicklow, in order to get into Wicklow, have to pass through two counties, Kildare and Dublin? Under the old Dáil regime sittings of the courts were held in Baltinglass.
That is simply a question of railway meanderings. I should think jurors in other parts of the country—in the West and elsewhere—have to travel greater distances than are, in fact, covered in this particular case.
Perhaps the Minister for Industry and Commerce will rearrange the railway service?
Is the Minister aware that jurors have to come up to Dublin and go back again in this case?
I am not.
Is the Minister aware that jurors going to Wicklow from West Wicklow, otherwise than by rail, have to cross a mountain range?
It is easier to do that than to go through it.