Ms Angela Denning:

The provisions that allow for the improved used of technology will improve efficiency and reduce delays. On practical issues, there was concern about the use of remote courts for procedural and trial matters. We recently came through the pandemic. There were significant delays because we did not have the technology in place to do that. We need to have measures in place to assist in the event of prolonged weather events or disease outbreaks. If there was an outbreak of TB or measles, for example, in the Criminal Courts of Justice in the morning, 23 courtrooms would be out of action for a period. Security or medical concerns are other areas where I see technology being used. If the accused or the judge got sick, do you have a retrial because the judge got sick or can the judge dial in remotely? There are places where I see the technology assisting us, certainly in the provisions for the exchange of documentation such as electronic warrants. There are loads of provisions where we can use technology to improve the efficiency across the system for us, the Garda and the Prison Service. This would assist data input and that type of work.