Ms Maura McNally:

That is actually what is occurring on the ground as we speak. For example, in the circuit from which I practise, namely, the midlands circuit, which involves the counties of Sligo, Roscommon, Longford, Westmeath, Laois and Offaly, the criminal trials that were in each county, such as in Sligo or Roscommon, are now being moved to either Mullingar or Tullamore, but the court facilities themselves are not big enough to facilitate the jury panel. By that I mean, if there is going to be a criminal trial, 12 people will get chosen to sit on that jury, but more than 12 people will have to be brought in. They will have to be summoned. On occasion, therefore, 100 people can be summoned, and if the assessment of the building says that there can only be 50 people in that building, then an alternative venue must be hired for those jurors. We are all cognisant of our own health and our own health issues.

The potential members of the jury are no different from us. We are all trying to wear our masks and stay 2 m apart. With all of that in mind, individuals are concerned about specific issues about their health. These are all practical issues, but these issues should be addressed by all the parties who will be or may be affected by it. We have no control over the hiring of that.