Frances Fitzgerald
Ceist:205 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the plans he has to fast track cases of child abuse through the courts or to create a new system for such cases. [12503/01]
Written Answers - Child Abuse.
The listing of cases and case management is a judicial function. As the Judiciary are independent under the Constitution the Deputy will appreciate that I have no function in this regard.
While there are circumstances in which the establishment of what might be called "dedicated courts" might be warranted, I believe that the real problem here is not the absence of a dedicated court, but one of general delay in the Central Criminal Court and at a number of Circuit Court venues.
These delays affect cases involving child victims as well as adult victims of serious crime. This is a matter of concern and I have taken action, within my area of responsibility as Minister, to address the problem.
First, I obtained Government approval for the appointment of an additional High Court judge who took up duty in February of last year. I also ensured that all the vacancies on the High Court Bench which arose in the course of last year were filled. These actions ensured that the court had the maximum statutory number of judges available. I have also recently published the Courts and Court Officers Bill, 2001, which provides,inter alia, for a further increase by one in the statutory number of High Court judges. Furthermore, I obtained Government approval for the appointment of an additional judge of the Circuit Court, and this appointment was made at the end of January last. This will enable the respective presidents – who are, of course, responsible for the listing and allocation of cases – to address the problem of delays, to the extent that they may be attributable to the shortage of judges. I should add, of course, that delays can be caused for a number of reasons, some of which are outside the control of the court.
I understand that the President of the High Court, in order to deal with the increase in the number of cases coming before the Central Criminal Court, has increased the number of judges sitting in that court to four, and that consideration is being given to the allocation of a fifth judge.