Vol. 533 No. 1
131 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will revise the regulations that govern jury service in order that people who have to sacrifice a day off might at least get recompense for additional child care costs or other items which would contribute to making jury service less disruptive. [8340/01]
There is no provision in the Juries Act, 1976 for the payment of expenses to jurors from State funds. When the Act was introduced, consideration was given to the matter of expenses but it was decided that expenses should not be paid as performance of jury service was considered to be a basic civic duty which arose relatively infrequently as far as the individual is concerned.
Section 29 of the Act of 1976 makes provision for employees to be paid by their employers while on jury service.
Under section 9 of the Act of 1976, a county registrar may excuse any person whom he or she has summoned as a juror from attendance during the whole or any part of the sittings in question if that person shows to the county registrar's satisfaction that there is good reason he or she should be so excused. This is entirely a matter for the county registrar concerned and I have no function in this regard.
I have no plans to change this system.
