Written answers

Wednesday, 20 April 2016

Department of Justice and Equality

Court Procedures

Photo of Richard Boyd BarrettRichard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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245. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if court appellants are being charged to acquire digital audio recordings of their original court hearings; if so, the reason, as such costs could potentially make it prohibitive for some persons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7765/16]

Photo of Frances FitzgeraldFrances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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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. The procedures whereby parties or other persons wishing to have access to records of court proceedings, including audio recordings, are set out in the relevant Rules of the District Court, Circuit Court and Superior Courts (S.I. Numbers 99/2013, 100/2013 and 101/2013) that came into effect on 8 April 2013. 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.

Where the presiding Judge authorises the release of the audio record, there is no cost to the applicant but if the Judge authorises the release of a transcript of the record the applicant is required to pay the service provider for the transcript and the charge for that is based on the word count of the transcript.

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