Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 May 2013
173. Deputy Áine Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when he expects the Courts Bill 2013 to be fully enacted; his view on whether the enactment of this Bill will result in more staff being employed by the Courts Service; and if extra staff are being recruited if it will be throughout the country. [20907/13]
View answerThe Courts Bill 2013 is currently before the Seanad and I hope to progress the Bill before the Oireachtas with a view to its enactment before the Summer recess. The purposes of the Bill are (i) to amend the in camera rule in order to introduce greater transparency in the administration of family and child care law by allowing press access to the courts in family and child care proceedings, subject to certain restrictions and prohibitions, and (ii) to increase the monetary jurisdiction limits of the Circuit and District Courts in civil proceedings.
There will be an impact on the Courts Service in terms of redistribution of work between court jurisdictions but the overall volume of cases is not expected to increase as a result of the Bill and no increase in staff is anticipated. The position will, however, be kept under review.
