Tom Moffatt
Question:31 Dr. Moffatt asked the Minister for Justice the proposals, if any, she has for limiting the time spent in court by gardaí regarding prosectuion of summary offences. [7040/96]
Written Answers. - Attendance by Gardaí in Court.
The Garda authorities have already implemented certain measures to control the amount of time spent by the gardaí in relation to court appearances. These measures include: the increased use in the Dublin Metropolitan Area of the summons as an alternative to the charge procedure; computerised summons application and issuing procedures which allow for court dates to be fixed for a rostered working day of the garda concerned; computerised scheduling of court cases so that cases relevant to a particular garda are listed together for hearing; the vehicle rectification scheme in the Dublin Metropolitan Area which allows motorists to repair vehicle faults within a specified period as an alternative to prosecution and consequent attendance in court; the number of Garda requests for remands is kept to a minimum.
A Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill which is at an advanced stage of preparation is an important element of the legislation which is a part of the criminal justice plans announced by me following the Government meeting of 30 January 1996. The main purpose of the Bill is to free Garda time and resources for the detection and prevention of crime. This is to be achieved by reducing the frequency of attendances and the amount of time spent by gardaí in the courts mainly through the provision of procedural Garda evidence in court by way of certificate instead of through attendance by gardaí in court.
Towards the end of last year I established a working group to review the operation of the courts system and to consider the establishment of a Courts Commission which would act as an independent and permanent body with financial and management autonomy. The working group which is being chaired by Mrs. Justice Susan Denham, has advisory and recommendatory functions and will ultimately be submitting a report to me on its findings. I understand from the Garda authorities that the Commissioner has made recommendations to the working group concerning Garda involvement in the courts system. This submission is expected to be taken into account by the working group when compiling its report.