I propose to take Questions Nos. 38, 42 and 51 together. In November 1995, I established the Working Group on a Courts Commission to review and report to me on the operation of the courts and the establishment of a commission on the management of the courts as an independent and permanent body with financial and management autonomy. That group recommended in its first report that an independent and permanent body be established to manage a unified courts system; this body to be known as the Courts Service and to be created by statute as an agency of the State. I obtained Government approval in principle for this recommendation in May 1996. On 12 November the Government agreed to the establishment of such a Service as approved in principle in May.
The Working Group on a Courts Commission submitted its third report to me on 18 November 1996 advising on the steps necessary to establish the Courts Service. This report sets out a proposed legal framework for the Courts Service and broad managerial approaches to the changing management structure of the courts. As regards the terms of reference of the Courts Service, its functions will be set out in legislation. I obtained Government approval on Tuesday, 19 November for steps to be taken as a matter of urgency to legislate for a Courts Service as advised and for the priority drafting of this Bill.