Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 September 2014
574. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when the criminal injuries board will meet to deal with outstanding cases in view of the fact that a number of cases are over three years old and a chairman was appointed earlier this year and in the interest of persons who are waiting a long time for claims to be dealt with, that the board deal with its business; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33249/14]
View answerI wish to inform the Deputy that under the terms of the Scheme of Compensation for Personal Injuries Criminally Inflicted that the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal is entirely independent in the matter of individual applications that fall to be considered under the Scheme and in this regard, it will be a matter for the Tribunal to make the necessary hearing arrangements in each case.
I can further inform the Deputy that a Tribunal Chairperson, Mr. John Cheatle, B.L. was appointed by my predecessor in October 2013. In April 2014 the then Minister sought expressions of interest from suitably qualified persons who wished to be considered for appointment as members of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal. I can also inform the Deputy that, as part of the on-going appointment process, I have considered the expressions of interest received and have in recent weeks appointed four new members of the Tribunal resulting in sufficient Tribunal members to allow appeal hearings to proceed in accordance with the provisions of the Scheme. The Deputy may wish to note that, under the terms of the Scheme, Tribunal members provide their services on a part-time basis. In this context, the hearing of appeals depends on the availability of three Tribunal members to sit as an appeal division of the Tribunal and, indeed, the availability of the applicant on that date. There is no set period during which the Tribunal sits as, for instance, happens in the Courts.
