The Gazette 1972

sion of the jury system to include all adults on the

electoral register.

Mr. O'Mallcy: Recommendations for amendments in

the jury system have been submitted in reports made by

the Committee on Court Practice and Procedure. These

include a recommendation that the property qualifi-

cation for jurors should be abolished and that inclusion

in the electoral register should be the only qualification

for jury service. Legislation dealing with all aspects of

the jury system will be introduced in due course. How-

eved, I can hold out no hope of introducing this legis-

lation in the near future as priority must necessarily be

given to more urgent legislative proposals.

Mr. Bruton: Could the Minister say what the position

is in relation to the service of women on juries?

An Ceann Comhairle: That is a separate question.

Mr. O'Malley: That problem will be covcred in the

general Bill on jury service.

Mr. Bruton: How long does the Minister expect it

will be before the Bill is introduced?

Mr. O'Malley: I cannot be very specific because I

have at least four major Bills which will take priority.

I do not want to give a specific time to the Deputy lest

I should be unable to keep to it.

8th February, 1972

European Judges' Salaries

Mr. Cosgrave asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs

if he will state the pay and other emoluments of the

Judges of the Court of the European Communities.

Mr. B. Lenihan: Judges of the European Court of

Justice receive a basic salary of £13,400. They are

entitled also to head of family and residence allowances

amounting to 5 per cent and 15 per cent respectively of

basic salary, a representation allowance of £1,200 per

annum, and dependant child's and school allowances

of £150 and £170 per annum respectively for each child.

Removal, installation and travel expenses are also

payable. There is a higher basic salary and representa-

tion allowance payable to the President of the Court.

17th February, 1972

Litigation Delays

Dr. O'Connell asked the Minister for Justice what

proposals, if any. there are for expediting cases of

litigation.

Mr. O'Malley: The causes of delay in litigation are

manifold and the subject is too complex to be dealt

with by way of reply to a Parliamentary Question. If

the Deputy wishes to put down a question on some

specific aspect of the matter. I shall see if I can use-

fully comment.

Departmental and Semi-State Body Reports

Dr. O'Conncll asked the Minister for Justice what

reports were commissioned by his Department and

semi-State bodies under the control of his Department

in each of the past ten years; what reports were publi-

shed: the total cost of these reports and in what cases

the findings were implemented.

Mr. O'Malley: The answer is in the form of a state-

ment which I propose to circulate with the Official

Report.

Following is the statement.

COMMITTEE ON COURT PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE

Terms of Reference:

(a) to inquire into the operation of the courts

and to consider whether the cost of litigation could

be reduced and the convenience of the public and

the efficient despatch of civil and criminal business

more effectively secured by amending the law in

relation to the jurisdiction of the various courts and

by making changes, by legislation or otherwise, in

practice and procedure;

(b) to consider whether, and if so to what extent,

the existing right to jury trial in civil actions should

be abolished or modified;

matters arising out of the committee's terms of

reference as may from time to time appear to the

committee to merit immediate attention or to

warrant separate treatment.

Date set up:

13th April, 1962.

Cost to date:

£2,800.

The Committee have submitted 16 interim reports

to date as follows:

First Interim Report:

Preliminary Invetigation of Indictable Offences.

Second Interim Report:

Jury Service.

Third Interim Report:

Jury Trial in Gvil Actions.

Fourth Interim Report:

Jury Challenges.

Fifth Interim Report:

Increase of Jurisdiction of the District and Circuit

Cburt.

Sixth Interim Report:

The Criminal Jurisdiction of the High Court.

Seventh Interim Report:

Appeals from Conviction on Indictment.

Eightn Interim Report:

(1) Service of Court Documents by Post.

(2) Fees of Professional Witnesses.

Ninth Interim Report:

Proof of Previous Convictions.

Tenth Interim Report:

Interest Rate on Judgment Debts.

Eleventh Interim Report:

The Jurisdiction and Practice of the Supreme Court.

Twelfth Interim Report:

Courts Organisation.

Thirteenth Interim Report:

The Solicitor's Right of Audience.

Fourteenth Interim Report:

Liability of Barristers and Solicitors for Professional

Negligence.

Fifteenth Interim Report:

On The Spot Fines.

Sixteenth Interim Report:

The Jurisdiction of the Master of the High Court.

The first ten Interim Reports have been printed, pre-

sented to each House of the Oireachtas and published.

The other reports will be similarly dealt with as soon

as possible.

Broadly speaking, the main recommendations of the

First. Third. Fifth, Eighth and Thirteenth Interim

Reports have been implemented.

BANKRUPTCY LAW COMMITTEE

Terms of Reference:

To consider and repott on the law and practice con-

cerning bankruptcy, the administration of insolvent

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