Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 31: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the steps he proposes to take to allow for greater Garda visibility by reducing the amount of Garda time spent in court; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34583/07]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The most recent report of the Garda Síochána Inspectorate noted the amount of time potentially spent by gardaí in court proceedings. It also noted that within the Dublin Metropolitan Region a Court Presenter system is in place in the Dublin Metropolitan Court District and that outside the DMR the local District Officer is the Prosecuting Officer, representing the Director of Public Prosecutions, for the majority of prosecutions before the District and Circuit Courts.

The Inspectorate welcomed developments in the Court Presenters system which frees up significant Garda time from court duty. The Inspectorate has suggested that this scheme should be extended to all courts throughout the Dublin Metropolitan region. They have also suggested that the Superintendents assigned outside of the Dublin metropolitan region should be relieved of their Court Prosecution role. In addition to the foregoing, Section 5 of the Road traffic Act 2006 provides for administrative charges for certain driving offences. A working group chaired by the Department of Transport is preparing for the commencement of this section which in turn should release gardaí from attendance at court in a significant number of such cases.