Reform of Judicial Review Process

QUESTION NO: 418

DÁIL QUESTION addressed to the Minister for Justice and Equality (Mr. Shatter) by Deputy Anthony Lawlor

for WRITTEN on Tuesday, 27th September, 2011.

To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if proposals are in place to alter the manner in which judicial reviews in District and Circuit Courts are recorded which will allow all parties involved in the case to be named; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

– Anthony Lawlor

REPLY.

Under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, the management and administration of the courts including responsibility for maintaining and publishing court statistics is a function of the Courts Service.

However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service has informed me that the parties to a judicial review involving District or Circuit Court cases are to be found in the High Court record; the only persons who are not identified are those whose identities are required to be protected by law, for example, the victim or perpetrator in alleged sexual assault cases.