andMr. Keating asked the Minister for Justice if he has any plans to widen the powers of the Master of the High Court to allow him to assume a more active role in conciliation in cases in order to reduce the costs incurred by bringing too many disputes before the court.
Written Answers. - Jurisdiction of Master of High Court.
250.
The Courts Bill, 1980, at present before Dáil Éireann, deals with a number of changes in the law affecting the courts which were considered to be particularly urgent. It is my intention to bring forward proposals for a further Bill — and possibly more than one Bill — to deal with other aspects of that law as soon as possible after proceedings on the present Bill have been completed in the Oireachtas. In the context of such further legislation I intend to consider among other things the recommendations in the 16th Interim Report of the Committee on Court Practice and Procedure concerning the jurisdiction of the Master of the High Court and concerning the introduction of a system of pre-trial procedure for which the Master would be responsible.