Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for raising this issue. These are not ideal circumstances in which to pass legislation.These measures, however, are different. It is not just, as Senator Ward has outlined, that they are contingencies for unforeseen eventualities. They are also changes, many of which have been sought for some time, that happened to be needed to try to deal with Covid and to ensure there was not a backlog and that justice could be served. They will benefit not just the Judiciary and the legal professions but also our citizens, and they will be of enormous benefit to those working at and attending our courts. They confer mostly a longer term benefit but they are needed in the short term too.

I am not sure what other way we could have introduced these measures. Other provisions could have been brought forward but they were not really relevant for now to combat the challenges we face with Covid, so we have not brought them forward. We have dealt only with the ones that have been asked of us and that we believe will create the greatest support for the Courts Service. I accept the point the Senator raised but I believe that this provision is absolutely necessary at this time.