Vol. 443 No. 9
64 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform if he will support a proposal for a centralised European Union data base of proceedings issued and judgments obtained and registered within the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I presume the Deputy is referring to the proposal for such a centralised data base made to the Department of Justice and considered, at a meeting on 9 December 1992 of the European Political Co-operation Working Group on judicial co-operation in civil matters.
It emerged at that meeting that administrative arrangements in the court system of other member states would have to be changed to facilitate the proposal. The states concerned did not indicate any willingness to do so in the foreseaeable future. In two member states legislative changes would be required. The conclusion of the group was that there was merit in the proposal but that it was not feasible to proceed with it at that stage because of practical difficulties.
After such a relatively short time it would be impossible to raise the matter again with any prospect of achieving a different outcome. Moreover, the European Council laid down last December a priority programme in the field of civil judicial co-operation which will take another year or two to complete.
After completion of the priority programme consideration will be given to reviving the proposal if a suitable opportunity presents itself and the proposal appears likely to have the support of a majority of EU member states.
