Major efforts have been made by the Courts Service, in conjunction with the Judiciary, to reduce waiting times in criminal and family law matters. Extra criminal courts have been held and waiting times reduced. For its part, the Government has provided significant additional resources for the Judiciary and the number of judges attached to all courts has been increased in recent years. The waiting time had been 18 months in the Central Criminal Court. However, with four courts sitting throughout September, during what is normally the long vacation, this has been reduced to 12 months. Senators will also be aware that in July of this year the Central Criminal Court sat outside Dublin for the first time. People have criticised this as a number of those sittings were held in Limerick. It has been suggested that this was a misjudgment on my part as Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. I emphasise that, although I was supportive of it, the decision was made primarily by the Judiciary and Courts Service. Anyone who understands the system would understand that it does not lie in the hands of the Minister to direct that such a policy should be implemented. The decision was made by others; I supported it and continue to support it. Whatever difficulties have emerged had to be experienced and now have to be addressed.