Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 27 May 1931

Vol. 38 No. 16

In Committee on Finance. - Vote 34—District Court.

The President

I move:—

Go ndeontar suim ná raghaidh thar £26,368 chun slánuithe na suime is gá chun íoctha an Mhuirir a thiocfaidh chun bheith iníoctha i rith na bliana dar críoch an 31adh lá de Mhárta, 1932, chun pé cuid de Thuarastail agus de Chostaisí na Cúirte Dúithche nách muirear ar an bPrímh-Chiste (Uimh. 10 de 1924, ailt 70 agus 76; Uimh. 27 de 1926, ailt 49 agus 50 agus Uimh. 15 de 1928, alt 13).

That a sum not exceeding £26,368 be granted to complete the sum necessary to defray the Charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March, 1932, for such of the Salaries and Expenses of the District Court as are not charged on the Central Fund (No. 10 of 1924, secs. 70 and 76; No. 27 of 1926, secs. 49 and 50 and No. 15 of 1928, sec. 13).

Mr. Fitzgerald-Kenney

This year we are asking for a sum of £39,548, £533 less than last year, the main decrease being under the heading of Salaries, Wages and Allowances. There are now three permanent assistant District Justices, and it is hoped that there will be no necessity for appointing deputy justices during the year. The various items making up the Estimate are practically the same as last year, and call for no special comment.

Mr. Little

I have very little to say about this Vote. One interesting thing occurred during the year to which I would like to call the Minister's attention for the purpose of encouraging the development of it. An experiment was tried in one part of the country to appoint arbitrators and to get local quarrels settled within the parish. A certain amount of misunderstanding arose about it. I do not propose to go into the details of the particular case, but it certainly did seem a fair way of settling disputes, of saving the public extra expense, and the parties concerned a waste of spirit and an expense of shame. The system could operate under the Arbitration Act. Of course, parties can always appeal to the Law Courts if they like, but I think it might be in the power of the Minister to encourage the development of these things all over the country.

Mr. Fitzgerald-Kenney

Of course, the Deputy's point has nothing to do with the matter. If people wish to arbitrate they can arbitrate provided, of course, they do not try to arbitrate to oust the jurisdiction of the courts of the country.

Motion put and agreed to.