Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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42. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality his views on the recent call by the Chief Justice for reform of the civil justice system in order to allow access to justice for all citizens; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44212/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy may be aware, a Group to review the administration of civil justice in the State, chaired by the President of the High Court Mr Justice Peter Kelly, was established recently. Membership, reporting structures and the remit of the Group are in the process of being finalised and the first meeting of the Group is scheduled for 9 November 2017.

The Group is to report to me within two years, and will make recommendations for changes with a view to improving access to civil justice in the State, promoting early resolution of disputes, reducing the cost of litigation, creating a more responsive and proportionate system and ensuring better outcomes for court users.

The aim of the review is to examine the current administration of civil justice in the State with a view to:

(a) Improving access to justice;

(b) Reducing the cost of litigation including costs to the State;

(c) Improving procedures and practices so as to ensure timely hearings;

(d) The removal of obsolete, unnecessary or over-complex rules of procedure;

(e) Reviewing the law of discovery;

(f) Encouraging alternative methods of dispute resolution;

(g) Reviewing the use of electronic methods of communications including e-litigation;

(h) Examining the extent to which pleadings and submissions and other court documents should be available or accessible on the internet; and

(i) Identifying steps to achieve more effective outcomes for court users with particular emphasis on vulnerable court users including children and young persons, impecunious litigants who ineligible for civil legal aid and wards of court.

The review will take into account the body of work and range of initiatives already developed such as the 2010 report of the Law Reform Commission on Consolidation and Reform of the Courts as well as the legal costs provisions of the Legal Services Regulatory Act 2015 among others.