Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)

Over the coming years, as judges retire, their replacements will not be automatically provided with an usher or crier. Instead, following consultation with the Judiciary and the Courts Service, and in addition to the general supports already in place, alternative support posts will be provided, most likely in the form of additional judicial researchers. It is important to note that these posts can be provided on a contract basis with reduced costs, as well as providing valuable experience for newly qualified legal people. The replacement of ushers and criers with an updated support structure was recommended in 2009 in the report of the special group on public service numbers and expenditure. This will not affect the supports currently available to serving judges.

My understanding is that this relates to section 43 of the Courts of Justice Act 1936, which allowed judges to have this facility. While it is important to note that new members of the Judiciary will not have automatic rights to these, Mr. McCarthy rightly pointed out a substantial expenditure on the part of the Courts Service. It is the view of the members of the Judiciary themselves that they would prefer to have a system of supports that they could call on individually. It is probably a more professional and less anachronistic way of dealing with these services.

That is my understanding of the total number and cost of the ushers and criers that are there.