Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I understand the situation in regard to the High Court judges, and there has been an improvement in respect of that. However, I think the key area in which we need to see improvement is in the Circuit Courts and District Courts, in particular. Indeed, the whole family law system is hugely backed up. Access to justice is a primary need and a primary right that citizens must have. At the end of the day, if we do not have enough judges to carry out the roles that are required, we are simply failing the public. That needs to be recognised. I appreciate that the Minister has referenced the two reports and had outlined pieces of work that have been done to look into this issue, but to be frank, I do not think we need reports to look into it. All we need to do is to talk to the people who are working in the courts and the judicial system. We all know, and we all hear it all the time, that the cause of a major part of the significant delays is the absence of judges and not having enough judges. Indeed, looking to the High Court and the higher courts that the Minister has spoken of, where additional capacity has been put in place, some of the judges are often pulled away. There are tribunals, inquiries and all of that and the judges end up sitting on those. We need a commitment from the Minister. How many new judges will be put in place by this time next year, and will it ensure that an adequate service is provided?

See this speech in context