Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

431. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if a cost analysis has been made in the case where a Court of Appeals is established in the event of the people vote in favour of it in the referendum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39432/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The referendum on the proposed Thirty-third Amendment of the Constitution (Court of Appeal) Bill will be held on October 4th. The establishment of the Court of Appeal will require the enactment of an “Implementation Bill” that will provide for the Court, the appointment of judges, their remuneration, and a number of other organisational and practical issues. That Bill cannot be enacted unless the People approve the amendment on 4th October.

The costs of the proposed Court of Appeal continue to be analysed but the current estimate is that the Court of Appeal would have an annual cost of €2.5 to €3m. This includes judicial salaries plus the cost of overheads, support staff, etc. These are however preliminary figures and the ultimate costs will depend on the number of judges required. A final decision on this aspect can only be made when we have a clearer picture of the Supreme Court backlog which will exist when the implementation bill is being finalised. It is expected that the appointment of two additional Supreme Court judges in the autumn will allow the Supreme Court to sit regularly in two Divisions which should have a positive impact reasonably quickly.

Of course there would be a significant personal and business cost of not providing a solution to this structural problem. The current level of delay in the Supreme Court of over four years is unsustainable for individuals and businesses seeking to pursue their Constitutional right of appeal. The establishment of a Court of Appeal provides a long-needed reform of our courts system. It will have significant benefit for individual citizens, but will also maintain the internationally recognised standing of Ireland as a competitive economy in which to do business.