Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 368: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the date of establishment of Commission for the Victims of the Northern Ireland Conflict; if this commission is still in existence; the purpose and role of this commission; the number of members of the board of this commission; the number of whom are appointed by himself; the person by whom the remaining board members are appointed; the expenditure of this commission for each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5336/08]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The Remembrance Commission was established in October 2003 and remains in existence. The Commission administers the Scheme of Acknowledgement, Remembrance and Assistance to Victims in this Jurisdiction of the Conflict in Northern Ireland. Under the Scheme, the Commission makes payments to persons injured, or to the survivors of persons fatally injured, since 1969 as a direct result of the conflict in Northern Ireland, where the injury or death occurred in this jurisdiction or where the victim was normally resident in this jurisdiction at the time of their injury or death. The Commission may also make payments to victims or surviving families who have had to move their normal place of residence from Northern Ireland or this jurisdiction as a direct consequence of the conflict and wish to return. In addition the Commission makes payments to victim support groups for the purpose of meeting the counselling needs of victims or members of surviving families in this jurisdiction as a direct result of the conflict. It also assists the provision of memorials and other forms of commemoration.

There are five members of the Commission, all of whom are appointed by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform.

The Commission's expenditure in each year of its existence is as follows:

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 369: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the date of establishment of the Garda complaints tribunal; if this tribunal is still in existence; the purpose and role of this tribunal; the number of members of the board of this tribunal; the number of whom are appointed by himself; the person by whom the remaining board members are appointed; the expenditure of this tribunal for each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5337/08]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The Garda Síochána (Complaints) Act 1986 provided for the establishment of the Garda Síochána Complaints Board. The Board was established on 6 April 1987. The Act of 1986 also provided for the establishment of a Tribunal to hear and determine cases where the Board considers that a breach of discipline (which the Board does not consider to be minor and appropriate to be dealt with by the Commissioner) may be disclosed.

This Garda Síochána Complaints Tribunal is still in existence — its function being to hear and determine those cases which remained within the sphere of competence of the Garda Síochána Complaints Board in accordance with section 111 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 and which were referred to it by the Board.

In accordance with the Second Schedule to the Act of 1986 the Tribunal is a three person body which is appointed by the Board from time to time to hear and determine cases. Two persons must be members of the Board and a third must be a member of the Garda Síochána, not below the rank of chief superintendent, who is nominated by the Garda Commissioner. In accordance with the First Schedule to the Act of 1986 the members of the Board are appointed by the Government. The Board comprises a Chairman and eight ordinary members (the Chairman and at least three of whom are solicitors or barristers of not less than ten years standing). Expenditure by the Garda Síochána Complaints Board on Tribunals and Appeals over the last five years is set out in the following table.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 370: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the date of establishment of the Registration of Title Rules Committee; if this committee is still in existence; the purpose and role of this committee; the number of members of the board of this committee; the number of whom are appointed by himself; the person by whom the remaining board members are appointed; the expenditure of this committee for each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5338/08]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I can inform the Deputy that the Local Registration of Title Rules Committee was established under Sections 73 and 74 of the Courts of Justice Act 1936 and became the Registration of Title Rules Committee on 4 July 1964 under Section 126 of the Registration of Title Act 1964. The Registration of Titles Rules Committee is no longer in existence. It has been replaced by the Registration of Deeds and Titles Rules Committee which was established on 4 November 2006 under Sections 48, 72 and 74 of the Registration of Deeds and Title Act 2006.

The purpose of the Registration of Deeds and Title Rules Committee is to make, with the agreement of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, general rules for carrying into effect the objectives of the Registration of Deeds and Title Act 2006. In accordance with Section 74 of the Registration of Deeds and Title Act 2006 the Committee consists of:

(a)the judge of the High Court for the time being assigned for that purpose by the President of the High Court, (currently Judge Mary Laffoy)

(b)the chairperson of the Authority, (currently Gerard McCaughey)

(c)the Chief Executive of the Authority, (currently Catherine Treacy)

(d)a practising barrister nominated by the General Council of the Bar of Ireland (currently James Dwyer, Senior Council), and

(e)a practising solicitor nominated by the Council of the Law Society of Ireland (currently Owen M. Binchy, Solicitor).

The Registration of Title Rules Committee and the new Registration of Deeds and Title Rules Committee have had no expenditure over the past five years. No salary is payable to the Registration of Deeds and Title Rules Committee and no claims for expenses have been made by the Committee Members.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 371: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the date of establishment of the Circuit Court Rules Committee; if this committee is still in existence; the purpose and role of this committee; the number of members of the board of this committee; the number of whom are appointed by himself; the person by whom the remaining board members are appointed; the expenditure of this committee for each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5340/08]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 373: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the date of establishment of the District Court Rules Committee; if this committee is still in existence; the purpose and role of this committee; the number of members of the board of this committee; the number of whom are appointed by himself; the person by whom the remaining board members are appointed; the expenditure of this committee for each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5342/08]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 378: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the date of establishment of Superior Court Rules Committee; if this committee is still in existence; the purpose and role of this committee; the number of members of the board of this committee; the number of whom are appointed by himself; the person by whom the remaining board members are appointed; the expenditure of this committee for each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5347/08]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 371, 373 and 378 together.

The District, Circuit and Superior Court Rules Committees are established under the Courts of Justice Act 1936, as amended. The Committees each make rules, with the concurrence of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, relating to the conduct of proceedings in the District, Circuit and Superior Courts. The Committees are extant. The Committees comprise, generally, members of the judiciary and the legal professions. The expenditure for the past 5 years is set out in the attached tables.

In addition to the expenditure outlined in the table above, a sum of €9,701.32 was incurred in the period 1st August to 30th November, 2007 due to the update of bench books.

Travel and subsistence payments amounting to €5,639 were also made in respect of the Superior Court Rules Committee during the period January 2003 to July 2006.