Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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193. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the progress made to date in achieving the recommendations of the Law Reform Commission in the context of traditional reform/setting up of the Court of Criminal Appeal and/or other administrative changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21072/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I understand that the Deputy is referring to the Report of the Working Group on the Court of Appeal which was published in 2009 and recommended the establishment of a single Court of Appeal. As he may be aware, the Government decided in principle last summer to proceed with preparations for the necessary Referendum and I recently announced that the intention would be to establish a Court of Appeal with both criminal and civil jurisdiction. The Government is committed to the holding of a Constitutional referendum on Article 34 which is necessary to achieve this and work has commenced in my Department in this regard. It is intended that the referendum will take place, together with at least one other referendum, in the autumn.