John Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We are touching on these issues in heads 16, 18 and 19. We are moving into that space. My view is that we need to go further. Head 18 relates to efficiency measures proposed by the RTB to reduce the period of notice to be given to parties to a dispute of the holding of a hearing of a tribunal from 21 days to ten days. That is being done to try to bring about more efficiency and to speed up the process. To be quite frank, that is worthless because how long the follow-on piece will take is anyone's guess. I would be delighted with the reduction of the notice period if there was a guarantee of a three-month process on the other side of the hearing. That would be great. Let us do what is proposed in head 18. However, we need to follow on from that. Between now and the legislation being enacted, I would like that issue to be teased out with the Department of Justice. I appreciate it is a matter for both Departments. It is a relatively quick process.

When it ultimately does get in front of a court, it does not take up a huge amount of court time. It is generally a rubber-stamping exercise that is carried out but it might take 12 months to get there.