asked the Minister for Justice what formal or informal committees are at present in existence in his Department; the terms of reference of such committees; when they were set up; the cost to date; and when it is expected that the reports of such committees will be available.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Departmental Committees.
56.
The answer is in the form of a statement which, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to circulate with the Official Report.
Following is the statement:
Committee on Court Practice and Procedure
Terms of Reference:
(a) to inquire into the operation of the courts and to consider whethere the cost of litigation could be reduced and the convenience of the public and the efficient despatch of civil and criminal business more effectively secured by amending the law in relation to the jurisdiction of the various courts and by making changes, by legislation or otherwise, in practice and procedure;
(b) to consider whether, and if so to what extent, the existing right to jury trial in civil actions should be abolished or modified;
(c) to make interim reports on any matter or matters arising out of the Committee's terms of reference as may from time to time appear to the Committee to merit immediate attention or to warrant separate treatment.
Date set up: April, 1962.
Cost to date: £2,600.
Report: The Committee have furnished fourteen interim Reports, ten of which have been published and circulated to Deputies. It is not known when further reports will be available.
Bankruptcy Law Committee
Terms of Reference: To consider and report on the law and practice concerning bankruptcy, the administration of insolvent estates of deceased persons and matters relating thereto; and to recommend the legislation that, in the Committee's opinion, is necessary and desirable to consolidate and amend the law.
Date set up: August, 1962.
Cost to date: £2,650.
Report: The Committee's report is at present being prepared but it is not known when it will be available.
Landlord and Tenant Commission
Terms of Reference: The following were the initial terms of reference of the Commission:
1. to inquire into the working of the law relating to landlord and tenant (other than the Rent Restrictions Act, 1960) and to recommend such amendments, if any, in the law as the Commission think proper;
2. to furnish an interim report of the provisions relating to the grant of new tenancies under Part III of the Landlord and Tenant Act, 1931, and on any other aspects of the law which in the opinion of the Commission should be given priority.
These terms of reference were subsequently extended as follows:—
3. to investigate and report on—
(a) whether any persons other than those given the right to a reversionary lease by the Landlord and Tenant (Reversionary Leases) Act, 1958, should be given such right, and
(b) whether any persons, other than those given the right to purchase the fee simple by the Landlord and Tenant (Ground Rents) Act, 1967, should be given such right;
4. to investigate and report on whether lessees holding their dwellings from local authorities under tenant purchase schemes should be given the right to purchase the fee simple of their dwellings.
Date set up: January, 1966.
Cost to date: £3,250.
Report: The Commission have furnished two interim reports which have been published and circulated to Deputies. It is not known when further reports will be available.