Vol. 401 No. 4
159 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Justice the reason reimbursement is not sought by the State for the cost of gardaí summoned to attend court hearings in civil actions for damages; and if he will give an assessment or estimate of such cost annually.
Gardaí attending court in their official capacity as witnesses in a civil case are deemed to be an duty and, accordingly, have an entitlement to their pay in respect of such attendance in accordance with the terms and conditions of their employment. As the Deputy will be aware, persons attending court as witnesses are entitled only to compensation in respect of actual loss of earnings or expenses incurred in attending. Additional costs arising where gardaí attend court in such cases, i.e. travel and subsistence expenses, are borne by the litigants.
Records are not kept in such a way as to allow the annual cost of Garda attendance in court as witnesses in civil actions to be estimated without diverting gardaí and staff of my Department from other more pressing duties.
