Ivana Bacik (Independent)

I thank the Minister for providing an update, although he did not indicate when this project is likely to come to fruition. We have been awaiting some time for information relating to its outcome. I am aware that a number of pilot projects were conducted. Unfortunately, there have been many such projects in the field of criminal justice, for example, the drug treatment courts, etc., but we never tend to see these being rolled out. Placing the initiative of the Courts Service and the Judiciary on a statutory basis or providing a timeline in order that we might know when the system will come into effect might prove useful. The work relating to this system has been ongoing for some time.