James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The judicial planning working group is looking at the very things about which the Deputy is concerned. We will be using those data from the OECD to assess the need in terms of judges, at present and going forward, in order that we can have an evidence-based, informed understanding of the need we have for additional judges in this country. The working group's report will inform that and the Government's decision-making. I should point out that the recent appointments and expansion in the number of High Court judges represents one of the largest increases in judges in recent memory and a very significant investment by the State in judicial resources. Once that working group reports, it will give us a better foundation for assessing exactly what is needed in the State in terms of increasing the number of judges.

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