Written answers

Wednesday, 5 February 2014

Department of Justice and Equality

Courts Service

Photo of Clare DalyClare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

150. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will outline in the interests of open and transparent justice and in view of the fact that €16 million was spent in installing digital audio recording facilities in most of our courts as an accurate and cost effective method of recording evidence, the reason CDs of digital audio recordings of court hearings are not available to participants who are instead forced to acquire stenographers' transcripts, despite the fact that most EU states make available CDs as they are cheaper and more accurate. [5871/14]

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

As the Deputy will be aware the courts are, subject only to the Constitution and the law, independent in the exercise of their judicial functions, and the conduct of any case is a matter entirely for the presiding judge. All Court records, including recordings of court proceedings, are under the control of the presiding Judge, as provided for in section 65(3) of the Court Officers Act, 1926. As I previously informed the Deputy in response to Parliamentary Questions No. 538 and 539 of 19 November 2013, No. 897 to 899 of 16 July 2013 and No. 444 and 445 of 25 June 2013, the relevant Rules of the District Court, Circuit Court and Superior Courts (S.I. Numbers 99/2013, 100/2013 and 101/2013) came into effect on 8 April 2013. The instruments regulate the procedures whereby parties or other persons wishing to have access to records of court proceedings, including audio recordings, may apply to the court concerned for access to such records. The instruments also set out the terms on which such access may be granted. A party to a case may apply to the court to access the recording. However, the granting of access and the terms under which such access is granted is a matter for the court. In common with all court rules these instruments are available on the Courts Service website.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.