Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour) | Oireachtas source

It is fortuitous that the Minister of State is here because he is a practical person. I am glad he is taking this debate notwithstanding the fact that it is part of the Minister for Justice and Equality's portfolio. I am very glad of that. The Minister for Justice and Equality and I are very good friends. Looking at it on straight line economics, one place the OPW has already indicated costs of €250,000 to fit out. The judge just needs his or her own room for chambers and an ordinary room to secure. That is available at some of the GAA facilities so it would be foolhardy economics for the OPW to just use straight line economics because it would cost a fortune for two years for all of the people to go down - legal aid practitioners, the OPW's own core staff or gardaí. Mullingar has already lost Circuit Court sittings to Tullamore so we are waiting for this court. Businesses are entitled to it. There is a lot of activity around court days and money is spent so Mullingar is already losing out and I do not want to see it losing out further. The Minister of State can solve the problem. Columb Barracks takes up a huge area. I know because I sacrificed everything for it. Let me see whether I can get one thing back. Do it for me personally. Let us get one thing back and put the court in there for the next two years and utilise it. It will save the Minister of State money, he can spend a few bob here and there dickying it up and making sure it is accessible for Judge Hughes or visiting judges who come to carry out their important functions in the administration of justice. I appeal to the Minister of State. I know from his own practical common sense that he will do something.

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