asked the Minister for Justice if he will state the District Justices recently appointed whose appointment was authorised only by Section 14 of the Courts of Justice (District Court) Act, 1946; further, the grounds on which it appeared necessary to utilise this provision to enable him appoint persons as Justices who otherwise would not be qualified for such appointment; whether it is proposed to avail of the section in question for the purpose of making further appointments to the judicial bench; and if so, whether he will indicate the positions which will be deemed to be qualifications for the purpose of the said section.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Appointment of District Justices.
Mr. Boland
In reply to a question asked by the Deputy on the 23rd October last, I stated that one of the persons recently appointed to be Justices of the District Court was at the time of his appointment a county registrar. I presume that the Deputy in his present question is referring to that appointment. If so, the Deputy is correct in assuming that that appointment could not have been made were it not for the provisions of Section 14 of the Courts of Justice (District Court) Act, 1946.
The provisions in question were enacted by the Oireachtas as an improvement on the then existing law and, in so far as they have had the result of making county registrars (amongst others) eligible for appointment as District Justices, I may point out that the qualification which was already required by law for appointment to the office of county registrar was higher than that required for appointment as District Justice.
I see no reason why any explanation should be given as to appointments already made of persons rendered eligible for appointment by Section 14 or why any undertaking should be given—even if that were possible—as to future appointments.
I may take it that Section 14, having served its purpose, will not be brought into action again?
Mr. Boland
The Deputy need take no such thing.