Written answers

Tuesday, 4 December 2012

Department of Justice and Equality

Court Procedures

Photo of Seán KyneSeán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 292 of 10 May 2011, if he has considered the judgement of the case pertaining to jury service by citizens who are deaf or have hearing impairments; and if measures will be introduced to facilitate such citizens in undertaking this important civic duty. [54457/12]

Photo of Alan ShatterAlan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy may be aware, the Law Reform Commission is considering Jury Service as part of its Third Programme of Law Reform 2008 - 2014. The Commission has engaged in a wide ranging public consultation and I look forward to the publication of their final report and recommendations which I understand the Commission intends to complete in the first half of 2013. The High Court judgment in the Clarke case, to which the Deputy refers, will be further considered in the context of the overall examination of any matters arising from the Law Reform Commission report.

It is worth noting that section 64 of the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2008 introduced an amendment to the First Schedule of the Juries Act 1976 which places the emphasis on a person's capacity to perform the duties of jury service and ensures that no person is automatically excluded because of an infirmity.

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