Vol. 464 No. 2
108 Ms F. Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Justice the changes, if any, she intends to make to Order 118 of the Rules of the Superior Courts which provide for the closure of offices to the public at 1 p.m. during the months of August and September and at 2 p.m. during Christmas, Easter and Whit vacations. [7912/96]
Section 68 of the Courts of Justice Act, 1936, provides that the power of making, annulling or altering rules of court for the High and Supreme Courts shall be exercisable by the Superior Courts Rules Committee with the concurrence of the Minister for Justice. It is not, therefore, open to me to make any amendments to Order 118 of the Rules of the Superior Courts.
I might add, however, that the terms of reference of the Working Party on a Courts Commission, which is being chaired by the Hon. Mrs. Justice Susan Denham, includes a review of the operation of the courts system, having regard to the level and quality of service provided to the public. The group's terms of reference embrace, accordingly, the questions of courts vocations and hours of opening of court offices. I look forward to receiving the recommendations of the group on these and other aspects of their work in due course.
