Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)

Where the District Court sitting at Harristown is dealing with remands from other districts, it should be noted that it has no jurisdiction to finalise the charges or hear the trial and the matter must be remanded back. That is obviously the reason some prisoners are remanded back to their original location.

Physical attendance for remands is a matter for the Judiciary. As the Senator rightly says, it was introduced in 2020 as a measure to help with Covid. It should be used, but it is a matter for the Judiciary itself. The Courts Service has made inquiries in relation to remands in Letterkenny District Court and has confirmed that videolink is the default position for any remand unless the judge directs otherwise. There are always certain circumstances where they want to have the person physically present, but the Senator has articulated the point well about greater efficiencies. It would appear from the note I am reading that the Courts Service is on the same page as him, except in exceptional circumstances.