The Government has agreed to bring forward legislation to allow for the appointment of nine extra judges to help speed up the judicial process.
Minister for Justice Michael McDowell announced yesterday that two of the new judges are to be assigned to the High Court, two to the Circuit Court and five to the District Court. This is in addition to the two new High Court judges sworn in by President Mary McAleese this week.
Mr Justice John Quirke last week warned that the High Court's judicial review list is in danger of collapse and many cases may have to be adjourned because there is only one judge available to manage the extensive workload.
He said hundreds of cases are pending in the High Court judicial review list, which hears challenges against a series of major decisions.
Yesterday Mr McDowell said the additional High Court judges will be used to reduce waiting periods in the Central Criminal Court and also to fast-track judicial review cases, especially review cases arising from major infrastructural projects, thus curbing the growth of judicial review as a delaying tactic. He said Circuit Court judges will also be used to reduce waiting lists.
The workload of the District Court is also becoming more complex and lengthy and, in particular, additional judges are required in order to fully implement the provisions of the Children Act, 2001, he said. Mr McDowell said the legislation providing for the additional judges will be enacted "as soon as possible".
The number of judges in each court, excluding presidents, currently stands at 31 in the High Court, 33 in the Circuit Court and 54 in the District Court.
A Department of Justice spokesman said the new judges are in addition to judges currently sitting in the courts. He said legislation sets out the maximum number of judges for each court.