Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 30 Mar 1993

Vol. 428 No. 5

Written Answers. - Review of Courts Service.

Pat Cox

Question:

39 Mr. Cox asked the Minister for Justice if she will initiate a review of the management of the courts service with the object of bringing about a reorganisation that will create a unified courts service; her views on whether the courts service should be placed under the direction of a chief executive who, subject to herself and in consultation with the judges, would be given overall responsibility for the management of the service with the resources and support needed to improve management at every level in order to provide an efficient and cost-effective service to the public; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Justice (Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn)

The Programme for Partnership Government contains a commitment to establish a Judicial Commission which will examine, among other items, the overall management of the courts and which will make apropriate recommendations to the Government. Necessary consultations in relation to the establishment of this Commission are underway.

It will be open to the Judicial Commission to formulate proposals, if it considers it appropriate, for a unified courts service along the lines proposed by the Deputy.

I will await the recommendations of the Judicial Commission before I embark on any major reorganisation of the courts service.

I should mention that the Government's programme also outlines a number of proposals for improving the courts service as it stands and for providing greater access by the public to the courts.