Courts Act, 1971

Power of justice to deal with urgent cases of summary jurisdiction in any part of his district.

15.—(1) Whenever the Minister is of opinion that early trial or disposal by the District Court of summary offences of any specified kind is desirable, he may by order so declare and the provisions of subsections (2) and (3) of this section shall have effect in relation to summary offences of any kind standing so specified in an order under this section.

(2) A justice of the District Court in whose district an offence of a kind standing specified in an order under this section is committed—

(a) shall have jurisdiction to deal with the case in any court area within his district, and

(b) may hold a sitting of the District Court within his district to deal with the offence at a place or time not standing appointed for the time being for the hearing of cases of summary jurisdiction.

(3) A summons issued in respect of an offence standing specified in an order under this section may direct the appearance of the person named in the summons at any sitting (including a sitting of the kind referred to in subsection (2) (b) of this section) of the District Court within the district court district in which the offence was committed and may be served personally at any time not less than two clear days before the sitting.

(4) The Minister may by order revoke or amend an order under this section including an order under this subsection.

(5) An order under this section shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas as soon as may be after it is made and, if a resolution annulling the order is passed by either House within the next twenty-one days on which that House has sat after the order is laid before it, the order shall be annulled accordingly but without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done thereunder.