Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 25 Jun 1998

Vol. 493 No. 2

Written Answers. - Judicial Training.

Breeda Moynihan-Cronin

Ceist:

91 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the in-service training, if any, funded by his Department for members of the Judiciary to update their knowledge and skills in family law matters and trends in social behaviour; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15446/98]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

The Judicial Training Institute established by the Chief Justice in late 1996 is responsible for the training and development of all Judges. The board of the institute is chaired by the Chief Justice and includes the Presidents of the High, Circuit and District Courts and a judge of each of these courts. Since its establishment the institute have held a number of seminars and conferences dealing with a diversity of matters including family law, drug related matters and sentencing. In a forthcoming conference it is proposed to address the issue of DNA evidence in paternity testing.

As the Deputy may be aware the Constitution provides that all judges shall be independent in the exercise of their judicial functions subject only to the Constitution and the law. The constitutional independence of the Judiciary excludes any action by myself as Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform which could be interpreted as direct interference in the exercise of their judicial functions including the imposition of a training or briefing programme on them. Initiatives with regard to the training of the Judiciary, therefore, are a matter entirely for the courts. I have however always assisted with initiatives which the Judiciary have brought forward with regard to training and funds have always been made available to judges at all levels to enable them to attend training seminars and conferences both at home and abroad. The importance of judicial training was recognised in the Courts and Court Officers Act, 1995 which contains provisions which empower me to provide funding for judicial training and which require persons wishing to be considered for judicial appointment to agree to undergo training if appointed.

I very much welcome the developments in judicial training in recent years and will continue to support such initiatives.