Vol. 403 No. 5
64 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Justice the number of cases under appeal to the Supreme Court as at (a) 31 December 1988, (b) 31 December 1989, and (c) the latest date for which figures are available; and the average length of time between lodgments of the notice of appeal and the court hearing.
The number of cases under appeal to the Supreme Court on 31 July 1988 was 639 of which on that date 139 had been certified by the appellant solicitor as being ready to proceed. Appeals are not placed in the list until such certificate has been given.
On 31 July 1989 there were 770 cases under appeal of which 122 had been so certified.
On 31 July 1990 there were 868 cases under appeal of which 166 had been so certified.
The average length of time between lodgment of notice of appeal and the court hearing is about two years at present. The length of time in individual cases depends on a number of factors, including the appellant's readiness to proceed. Appeals in which a strong case for priority listing is made to the court, are allocated such priority as can be afforded, in the light of the court's commitments.
