Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 October 2020
412. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Justice if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the Dublin County Registrar is not sitting for taxation of costs hearings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30193/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service which is independent in exercising its functions.
However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service has informed me that the taxation of costs hearings was the first body of adjourned work to be dealt with by the Dublin County Registrar upon the easing of Covid-19 restrictions. The Registrar has been sitting to hear taxation of costs matters in addition to all other business in her list and continues to do so in accordance with the Courts Service protocol.
A statement issued by the President of the Circuit Court on 8th May stated that all civil hearings which were adjourned as a result of the pandemic would be given a date by the office on a time-slot staggered basis.
The Dublin County Registrar put a mechanism in place to deal with all adjourned matters including the listing and hearing of taxation of costs applications. Notice of this mechanism was published on the Courts Service website and subsequently updated to include the mechanism for listing and hearing of new taxation of costs applications.
