asked the Minister for Justice whether his attention has been drawn to a Press report of a statement by a district justice criticising the conduct of the local Gaelic football teams and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter under Section 21 of the Courts of Justice (District Court) Act, 1946.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Conduct of Gaelic Football Teams.
Mr. Boland
My attention has been drawn to the Press report referred to and I have no hesitation in sayingthat the remarks attributed to the Justice, in so far as they reflect on the conduct of Gaelic football players in general, are most offensive and ought not to have been made.
I consider, however, that the statutory provision which empowers the Minister for Justice to request the Chief Justice to cause a judicial inquiry to be held into the conduct of a justice should not be invoked unless the cause of complaint is of such a nature that, if it were established, the Minister would have no alternative but to table a resolution for the justice's removal from office.
In the present instance, I do not think that the cause of complaint is sufficiently grave to warrant such action.
Might I ask the Minister whether the district justice in this case has been reprimanded lest he might use his very privileged position on the bench to make similar abusive and offensive statements in the future?
Is the Minister aware that the same district justice made a statement——
There is only one case referred to here, and we cannot reopen everything in relation to the district justice concerned. The question refers to a report of a statement of a district justice.
I am asking the Minister whether he is aware of another statement made by the same district justice.
This is another incident the Deputy is asking about.
I will put another question down because it deals with a similar case.
It is another question.
Would the Minister ask this district justice to apologise to the G.A.A.?
That is a separate question.
Mr. Boland
All I can do is ask the High Court judge to make an inquiry. I am not in a position even to reprimand him. However, it would suit district justices better if they did their job and gave their decisions without making any of these objectionable comments.
Does the same thing not apply when they are giving dance-hall licences?
Mr. Boland
They should do their job without making these offensive comments.
Deputies
Hear, hear!