James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

These matters are kept under review. I acknowledge a backlog was built up during the initial Covid period. Maintaining access to justice and the courts system has been a key priority in my Department's response to the ongoing Covid pandemic. There has been a substantial level of engagement between my officials and senior officials of the Courts Service. This engagement with the Courts Service has included fortnightly multi-agency telephone conference meetings between senior officials, the continued development and implementation of contingency and business continuity plans, as well as regular engagement, not just on Covid-19 measures, but on current operational issues and strategic issues such as the modernisation of the court system. There is daily contact with officials by email and telephone regarding any issues or queries arising. There has been the establishment of working groups in the Department to ensure maintenance of access to justice.

Access to justice is important and must continue during Covid. Both the Department and the Courts Service are doing everything they can to ensure that access continues.

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