As regards what Deputy Minch has said it might perhaps be regretted by the lawyers in the County Kildare if I were to meet them, because I might ask them for instances as to the arrears that existed under the County Court system. I might also ask them to give me an estimate of the cases where witnesses did not turn up or of cases where the solicitor or counsel had other engagements. Perhaps I should not pursue that aspect of the matter too far. Deputy Fitzgerald-Kenney has stated quite accurately, if I may say so, that the report of the Committee can be mastered in a short time. I venture to think that I have a pretty good grasp of the report. I am afraid I do not agree with Deputy Fitzgerald-Kenney in so far as he suggests that it is not necessary to go through the evidence. I think it is my duty to go very carefully through the evidence of the various witnesses. They were, as Deputy Morrissey stated, gentlemen of great eminence in their particular callings. The views even of the witnesses, whose testimony may not have commended itself to the Committee as a whole, must, I feel, be considered by me.
Another matter that I must consider is this: How I will bring any change, if there is to be a change, into true relation with the impoverished condition of the country? If I had abundant means at my command I could suggest various ways in which cases could be dealt with most expeditiously in every court, and whereby appeals would be heard very rapidly and with little expense. I have to consider that, and it is a matter that will require a good deal of thought. Deputy Fitzgerald-Kenney has stated that there is already a Bill which is substantially in draft. and that I might perhaps get the Parliamentary draftsman to expedite the final drafting of it. It is a fair observation to make, because it really has not to do with legislation. It is part of the work which has to be done. I am perhaps more familiar with the particular details than Deputy Fitzgerald-Kenney can have been.
Deputy Fitzgerald-Kenney had a number of matters of far-reaching importance to attend to last year, and he may not be aware that the Parliamentary draftsman has merely drafted what may be described as the non-contentious portions of the Bill. Deputy Fitzgerald-Kenney was not at any time able to give the Parliamentary draftsman instructions as to the substantial part of the Bill, that part that was likely to prove contentious. It is fair that the House and the public should know that. It is also only fair to the very distinguished member of the Bar who occupies the position of Parliamentary draftsman. It is not a matter of expediting the Parliamentary drafts man's work. He is certainly well abreast of his work. The next step must be mine, and the next step after that, if it comes to the House, must rest with this House.
Deputy Dillon has complained about the great and inconvenient delays that occur in regard to the hearing of appeals. I am not able to say at the moment how many appeals there are to be heard or how long these appeals are waiting. Deputy Good has made observations in relation to which I think I should say something. What he said was that business men had been complaining about these delays for seven years.
