Feargal Quinn (Independent)

One of the objectives of the Courts and Court Officers Act 2002 was to make an effort to bring down the costs of legal proceedings, an issue which has been at the height of criticism by the troika and the IMF. Sections 13 and 14 of that Act proposed one way of saving a considerable sum of money by increasing the monetary limit - the jurisdiction - in civil proceedings in the Circuit Court from €38,000 to €100,000, and in the District Court from €6,000 to €20,000. We passed that legislation but we never commenced it. Perhaps there is a reason we have not done so. Will the Leader find out why it has not happened?

One of the great success stories has been the Small Claims Court. It has a limit on claims not exceeding €2,000 but that could be increased to €3,000. It also has an online application facility that is the envy of all of the other courts. There are things that we can do, without further legislation. We already have passed a law but I do not know why we have not commenced it. Perhaps the Leader can find out why. It would go some way to reducing the considerably high costs of legal proceedings in this country.