asked the Minister for Justice if he is prepared to introduce legislation enabling payment to be made to jurors.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Payment of Jurors.
60.
The question of increased remuneration for jury service is one of the matters dealt with in the Second Interim Report of the Committee on Court Practice and Procedure which is now under examination in Government Departments.
It will probably be necessary to have comprehensive amending legislation affecting many aspects of the jury system. I am not in a position to say more than that, at present.
Is the Minister aware of the hardship and the financial burden placed on many business people and farmers who have to get somebody to replace them when they have to leave their business or work to attend court? Surely the Minister realises they constitute the only unpaid State service at present? Could he not introduce even a small Bill to compensate those people? The matter is urgent.
I am aware of the difficulties for some people in carrying out their jury service. The kinds of people I think the Deputy has in mind——
Small business people and farmers.
——will not be recompensed maybe by way of what will be provided by payment but, to indicate to the Deputy and to the House the necessity for comprehensive legislation, may I say I am preparing legislation in which I contemplate specifically increasing the jurisdiction of certain courts which would substantially possibly relieve the calls on jury service in the cities.
(Cavan): Could the Minister give us any indication as to when he might be in a position to introduce that legislation?
I hope to have it introduced very shortly. The major portion of it is drafted.
The Minister will have it ready for his successor.
I shall be here to put it through the House.
The Minister is now whistling while going past the graveyard.
If Deputy Dillon and other Deputies opposite are worried about that, they may sleep quietly. I shall be here, surely.
Deputies opposite are delaying it as much as they can.