asked the Minister for Justice whether any changes in circuit court areas are contemplated; and, if so, what the position will be in County Sligo.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Circuit Court Areas.
52.
I propose shortly to introduce a Bill providing for the reorganisation of the present circuit court circuits, including the northern circuit of which County Sligo forms a part.
When the Bill comes before the House, I shall indicate the manner in which it is intended to have the reorganisation effected.
Is the Minister aware that there is provision in County Sligo for a minimum of eight sittings per year, that at the moment we are getting seven and consequently there are a lot of arrears? Is the Minister further aware that if the change proposed by the Department of Justice is made, the number of sittings will be reduced to approximately five and a difficult situation will be made impossible? May I ask the Minister to go back to the pre-1960 arrangement for Sligo and Donegal?
As I have said, we propose to reorganise the circuits generally. Everybody is agreed that the present north-western circuit is overloaded and we hope to provide a solution to that problem. When the legislation comes before the House, Deputies will have an opportunity of discussing exactly what is proposed.
Is the Minister aware that in Donegal we require a minimum of 17 weeks per year for the circuit court and that in the circumstance the solution to the problem is to amalgamate Donegal and Sligo, with the judge doing temporary relief in Dublin during what can be described as his spare time? Is the Minister further aware that when the present arrangement was made in 1960, his predecessor in office and the former secretary of the Department of Justice gave an undertaking to the present Parliamentary Secretary to the Taoiseach and to me that if the system were not satisfactory, he would revert to the system in existence prior to 1960? If the Minister is so aware, would he bear that in mind in considering any legislation he may be introducing?
We are all agreed that the present situation in the north-western circuit is unsatisfactory.