Vol. 452 No. 3
140 Mr. Barry asked the Minister for Justice if the assignment of the additional judges to be appointed will be in the sole remit of the President of each of the respective Courts; the consultative process, if any, involved with her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8046/95]
The permanent assignment of judges of the District and Circuit Courts is a matter for the Government.
Judges of the Circuit Court are permanently assigned to Circuit Court Circuits by the Government in accordance with the legislative provisions set out in section 2 of the Courts Act, 1977 as amended by section 18 of the Courts Act, 1991. In accordance with section 10 of the Courts of Justice Act, 1947, the temporary assignment of Circuit Court judges is a matter for the President of the Circuit Court and is one in which I have no function. Judges who are not permanently assigned to a circuit are temporarily assigned at the discretion of the President.
The legislative provisions governing the assignment of judges of the District Court are set out in the Sixth Schedule to the Courts Supplemental Provisions Act, 1961. In accordance with this schedule the permanent assignment of judges to District Court districts is a matter for Government and the temporary assignment of District Court Judges is a matter for me. The Courts Act, 1991, allows for the appointment of 11 permanently unassigned District Court judges. The temporary assignment of judges would usually involve informal consultation with the President of the District Court.
