John Browne
Question:70 Mr. Browne (Carlow-Kilkenny) asked the Minister for Justice the length of time involved between the lodging of a High Court claim and the actual hearing; and his plans, if any, to expedite such cases.
Written Answers. - High Court Claims.
The assumption underlying the question appears to be that the norm is for claims initiated by plaintiffs in the High Court to proceed to hearing, that there is a "standard" length of time which it takes for these claims to come to hearing and that it is within the power of the State to expedite progress of such cases between lodgment of claim and hearing. The actual position is that only 10 per cent or less of such claims proceed to court hearing, the length of time between lodgment of claim and hearing in those cases which do proceed to hearing varies considerably and for the most part the progress of a High Court case, once lodged, rests with the parties and their legal representatives until they serve a notice of trial.