Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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57. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality her views on a gender balance on juries; the steps she will take to ensure same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5089/17]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy may be aware, there is no statutory requirement for gender balance on juries. Section 11 of the Juries Act 1976 as amended provides that each county registrar, using a procedure of random or other non-discriminatory selection, shall draw up a panel of jurors for one or more courts within a jury district from the register or registers delivered to him under section 10 (omitting persons whom he knows or believes not to be qualified as jurors). The Law Reform Commission’s Report on Jury Service contains 56 recommendations and covers a broad range of issues relating to jury service such as eligibility for jury service, the categories of persons excusable as of right and the circumstances surrounding disqualifications from jury service. This detailed report and its recommendations are being examined by my Department.