Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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124. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will investigate court transcripts (details supplied) to verify or reject claims that a county registrar presiding over a case of mortgage distress indicated to the person involved that failure to meet their mortgage repayments would result in the removal of their children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5653/17]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service which is independent in exercising its functions, which include the provision of information on the courts system.

However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service has informed me that County Registrars are independent in the exercise of their functions and duties under statute and rules of court and that the conduct of, and decisions made in, a County Registrar's Court is a matter entirely for the presiding County Registrar. It is also the case that all orders of a County Registrar are subject to appeal to the Circuit Court.