The Courts Bill 2013 is currently before the Seanad and I hope to progress the Bill before the Oireachtas with a view to its enactment before the Summer recess.
The purposes of the Bill are (i) to amend the in camera rule in order to introduce greater transparency in the administration of family and child care law by allowing press access to the courts in family and child care proceedings, subject to certain restrictions and prohibitions, and (ii) to increase the monetary jurisdiction limits of the Circuit and District Courts in civil proceedings.
There will be an impact on the Courts Service in terms of redistribution of work between court jurisdictions but the overall volume of cases is not expected to increase as a result of the Bill and no increase in staff is anticipated. The position will, however, be kept under review.