asked the Minister for Justice if, in view of repeated requests from interested bodies i.e. the Dún Laoghaire Corporation, the Dún Laoghaire Chamber of Commerce and the public, he is now in a position to state when a separate Circuit Court will be provided for Dún Laoghaire.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dún Laoghaire Circuit Court.
47.
I would refer the Deputy to my reply on 4th February, 1971, to a question in relation to the establishment of a separate District Court with full jurisdiction in Dún Laoghaire.
As I then indicated, I personally favour having a District Court with full jurisdiction in Dún Laoghaire but there are complicated issues involved which must delay the implementation of any proposal to that effect. It would be premature to consider the question of establishing Circuit Court sittings in Dún Laoghaire until a decision has been reached in relation to sittings of the District Court at that venue.
Can the Minister in any way expedite the completion of the arrangements in respect of the District Court? As he probably is aware, this matter has been the subject of discussion for a considerable time between the District Court justices and also between Dún Laoghaire Corporation and Dublin County Council. Because of the overlapping of the areas there is a great deal of confusion and a great deal of unnecessary travelling for litigants and other applicants before the District Court.
I am aware there are difficulties. The main problem from the point of view of making this change with regard to the District Court is the consequential effect it will have on the licensing laws in the country, because it would mean that Dún Laoghaire would be taken out of the Dublin Metropolitan District for licensing purposes. Legislation would be necessary to cover that point. If it were not necessary I could make an order in respect of the District Court of Dún Laoghaire.
Perhaps if the legislation was not too complicated the Minister might consider bringing it in?
If we get the opportunity of amending the licensing laws there are a number of anomalies of various kinds which it would be preferable to have amended together.