Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 2 Mar 1994

Vol. 439 No. 6

Written Answers. - Family Law Cases.

Alan Shatter

Ceist:

105 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Justice the number of cases in each Circuit Court area issued pursuant to the Judicial Separation and Family Law Reform Act, 1989, which have not yet been determined by the Circuit Court or been settled and which await hearing.

Alan Shatter

Ceist:

106 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Justice the number of cases pursuant to the Judicial Separation and Family Law Reform Act, 1989, in respect of which proceedings have been issued which are currently pending before the Master of the High Court or the High Court proper and have yet to be determined.

Alan Shatter

Ceist:

107 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Justice the number of court proceedings issued in the High Court and the Circuit Court, pursuant to the Judicial Separation and Family Law Reform Act, 1989, in each of the years 1989 to 1993; in respect of the Circuit Court, the Circuit Court area within which proceedings were issued in each of the aforesaid years; in respect of the High Court and Circuit Court areas in each of the aforesaid years, the number of cases in which decrees of judicial separation were granted; and the grounds upon which such decrees were granted.

Minister for Justice (Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 105, 106 and 107 together.

Court statistics are not compiled in such a manner as to enable the statistical information sought in the questions to be readily provided. However, I have made arrangements for such information as can be readily compiled to be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Some of the statistical information sought could be compiled only by assigning a disproportionate number of staff to the task at the expense of other more important tasks, which would cause delays in court business. Accordingly, it will not be available; but I have directed my officials to request the Chief Registrar of the High Court to look into the question of compiling court statistics with a view to making statistical information on the family law courts more readily available.