Question:
64 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when his Department was informed of the judges nominated by the President of the District Court under the Drug Trafficking Act, 1996. [21211/97]
Written Answers. - Nomination of Judges.
Dick Spring
Question:71 Mr. Spring asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will give details of contacts he has had with the President of the District Court to ensure that proper procedures are established in order to ensure that decisions of the President in nominating judges under the Drug Trafficking Act, 1996 are known to his Department and to other agencies that require this information in the operation of their function. [21212/97]
Michael Ferris
Question:89 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform whether his Department is informed of decisions made by the President of the District Court in relation to the nomination of competent judges by the President under the Drug Trafficking Act, 1996; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21222/97]
Michael D. Higgins
Question:92 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will give details of the way in which his Department is informed of nominations of judges by the President of the District Court under the Drug Trafficking Act,1996; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21218/97]
Question:
111 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will give details of the reforms, if any, he will undertake in the practices and procedures of his Department following the recent release of five prisoners by a judge under the Drug Trafficking Act, 1996. [21210/97]
John Gormley
Question:382 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the steps, if any, he will take regarding the extended holding in detention, particularly of suspects charged with drug trafficking offences; and the added involvement of District Court judges, if any, in this process. [21219/97]
Nora Owen
Question:407 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the difficulties, if any, which have been notified to him by the President of the District Court in relation to the nominations of judges for the purposes outlined in the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996, in view of the Minister's reference to these problems in his speech to Dáil Éireann of 25 November 1997, and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21350/97]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 64, 71, 89, 92, 111, 382 and 407 together.
I refer the Deputy to my comprehensive statement in the Dáil on Tuesday, 25 November about events in connection with the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996. I clearly outlined to the House in that statement and in supplementary questions, that the nomination of judges of the District Court in accordance with the provisions of that Act is a matter for the President of the District Court and is one in which I and my Department have no function.
Since my statement I have discussed the matter separately with the President of the District Court and with the Garda Commissioner in the light of the practical difficulties which have become evident.