asked the Minister for Justice if he is aware of the hardship and expense suffered by people especially workers who are summoned to serve on juries; and if he is prepared to amend the Juries Act so that travelling expenses and allowances will be paid to them.
Written Answers. - Jury Service Expenses.
741.
I have no proposals at present for the amendment of the Juries Act, 1976, but I would be prepared to consider the matter of the payment of expenses to jurors in the context of any future amendment of the Act.
I would point out, however, that section 29 of the Act provides that an employer is liable to pay the wages of an employee during any period when he is absent from his employment in order to comply with a jury summons, while in any case where hardship might be likely to arise it is open to the person concerned to apply to the county registrar for excusal from service as provided in section 9 of the Act.