Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 July 2021
92. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice the reason the work of the Jury Reform Group has been stopped; the costs to date of the work of the group; if there are plans for reform in this area; if the group will deliver a report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36702/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraModernisation of the courts system, which includes jury reform, is a priority area in Justice Plan 2021, which was published in February last.
My Department’s Plan to modernise the courts system will build on a number of important reforms over the last decade, including changes to jury service:
- removal of the upper age limit for eligibility to serve on a jury;
- provision for the appointment of up to 3 additional jurors to ensure continuity in lengthy criminal trials;
- the Courts Service have modernised and centralised the handling of all jury summonses from across the country thus allowing greater efficiency in managing jury lists (previously this was carried out by each circuit court office);
- the recent enactment of the Criminal Procedure Act 2021, which provides for pre-trial hearings, reduces the scope for lengthy legal argument during the course of trials, makes court procedures faster and more efficient, thus improving the experience for jurors.
It should also be noted that during 2020 further consideration was given to jury reforms while assessing the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on criminal trials. In this context, the Deputy will be aware that my Department brought forward the Civil Law and Criminal Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2020 and the Criminal Procedure Act 2021.
In 2018 a working group was established to examine the issues raised in a report from the Law Reform Commission on Jury Service.
In its report the LRC identified a number of issues, such as how representative juries are of their communities, the wide range of people who can be excused as of right from jury service; the difficulties that arise in complex lengthy trials for members of a jury; provision of reasonable accommodation for people with disabilities to serve as jurors; the implications of on-line internet activity and wireless technology for the work and conduct of juries; and issues of remuneration arising from jury service.
The group comprised officials of my Department, the Courts Service, Forensic Science Ireland, An Garda Síochána and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. I understand it met and engaged in targeted consultation with other key stakeholders on a number of occasions between April 2018 and April 2019, at which stage other important work took priority. I am informed that, apart from the time of the group's members, no additional costs were incurred.
The intention is that the operation of the jury system will be reviewed, taking account of the work already carried out by the working group and any subsequent developments, particularly over the course of the pandemic, with that review commencing next year. I do not expect the previous group to be reconvened to produce a report. Any measures identified in the review would also build on the other important reforms to jury service I have mentioned and would likely require primary legislation. Actions will be considered in the context of developing Justice Plan 2022.
