Vol. 456 No. 3
51 Mr. B. Ahern asked the Minister for Justice if she foresees any major difficulties with the implementation of the legal provisions associated with the divorce referendum in view of the massive backlog of judicial separation cases before the courts. [13791/95]
The majority of applications for judicial separation are heard in the Circuit Court. Currently, there are delays in the hearing of these cases particularly in the larger urban venues and this is a matter of great concern.
However, I have obtained Government approval to prepare a Bill which will include provisions to increase the number of judges of all courts and in particular to increase the number of judges of the Circuit Court by seven. This Bill is being drafted in my Department and I expect to introduce it early in this session.
I am satisfied that these additional judges will provide the courts with the resources required to eliminate current delays and to facilitate the prompt disposal of cases in the future. Furthermore, the Government has given a commitment in the programme for Government to take the steps necessary to ensure that the family courts are strengthened. In this regard I am awaiting with great interest the final report of the Law Reform Commission on the matter which will receive full and careful consideration prior to formulating proposals for its implementation in conjunction with the commitment in the programme for Government.
