Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 15 Jul 1965

Vol. 217 No. 9

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Salaries of Court Officers.

41.

Mr. Barry

asked the Minister for Justice whether, since the publication of the Estimates for Public Services for the year ending 31st March, 1966, the respective salaries, wages and allowances of (a) the Registrar and Assistant Registrar of the Supreme Court, (b) the Registrar and Assistant Registrar, Wards of Court, (c) the Master, Registrars, and Assistant Registrars of the High Court and (d) the County Registrars of the Circuit Court have been increased; if so, if he will state (1) the present amount of the salary, wage or allowance of each such officer; (2) particulars of the method by which the amount of each such revised wage, or allowance, was arrived at; (3) whether special adjustment, in their remunerations, was made in respect of any, and, if so, which of the above officers; and (4) the reasons necessitating any such special adjustments.

Minister for Justice (Mr. B. Lenihan)

The particulars requested by the Deputy are contained in a tabular statement which, with your permission, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, will be circulated with the Official Report.

Following is the statement:

1 (a) Salaries have been increased to the following rates:—

Office	Officer	Revised Annual Rate
Supreme Court	Registrar	A	£2,895×155-3,500
		B	£3,230×155-3,850
	Assistant Registrar	A	£1,645×54-2,185×55-2,240
		B	£2,060×63-2,575
Wards of Court	Registrar	A	£2,895×155-3,500
		B	£3,230×155-3,850
	Assistant Registrar	A	£1,995×66-2,400
		B	£2,365×72-2,720
High Court	Master		£4,300
	Registrar (1)	A	£2,715×85-3,040
		B	£3,045×95-3,350
	(2)	A	£2,240×77-2,715
		B	£2,575×85-3,045
	(3)	A	£1,995×66-2,400
		B	£2,365×72-2,720
	(4)	A	£1,645×63-2,400
		B	£2,060×72-2,720
	Assistant Registrar	A	£1,535×43-1,930
		B	£1,905×55-2,290
Circuit Court	County Registrar Class	I	£4,500
	,, ,, ,,	II	£3,520
	,, ,, ,,	III	£3,230
	,, ,, ,,	IV	£2,975
	,, ,, ,,	V	£2,820

1 (b) Allowances have been increased as follows:—

Office	Officer	Nature of Allowance	Revised Rate
High Court	Registrar	Management of Central Office and general superintendence and control of High Court Office	£185
Circuit Court	County Registrar, Cork	Performance of District Probate Registrar duties	£188
	County Registrar, Limerick	do.	£125
	County Registrar, Mayo	do.	£125
	County Registrar, Waterford	Performance of District Probate Registrar, duties	£125
	County Registrar, Cavan	do.	£103
	County Registrar, Kilkenny	do.	£103

2. The method adopted in revising these salaries and allowances was to increase them by amounts similar to the increases approved by the Minister for Finance in the salaries and allowances of comparable general service grades.

3. There was no special adjustment in any case.

4. This does not arise in view of the reply to 3.

Mr. Barry

I accept the statement which we shall probably see in about a fortnight's time but everyone knows those amounts have been considerably increased without the sanction of this House and I ask the Minister and the Government now if, in view of the economic situation of the country, there was any justification for it.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

That is a separate question.

Mr. B. Lenihan

I shall give the Deputy the particulars this afternoon.