No. 31/1995:

COURTS AND COURT OFFICERS ACT, 1995

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

PART I PRELIMINARY AND GENERAL

1 Short title, commencement, collective citation and construction.

2 Definitions.

3 Repeals.

PART II SUPREME COURT

4 Vesting of powers of Court of Criminal Appeal in Supreme Court.

5 Courts-Martial Appeal Court.

6 Number of judges of Supreme Court.

7 Sittings of Supreme Court.

8 Administration of Supreme Court.

PART III NUMBERS OF JUDGES OF HIGH COURT, CIRCUIT COURT AND DISTRICT COURT

9 Number of ordinary judges of High Court.

10 Number of ordinary judges of Circuit Court.

11 Number of judges of District Court.

PART IV JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS

12 Interpretation of Part IV.

13 Judicial Appointments Advisory Board.

14 Procedures of Board.

15 Death or retirement of member of Board.

16 Submission of names to Minister.

17 Advice on appointment of judge to judicial office.

18 Advice on appointment of Attorney General to judicial office.

19 Undertaking to be given by applicants for judicial office.

20 Confidentiality of communications.

21 Staff of and assistance to Board.

22 Expenses.

23 Appointment of Chief Justice, etc.

PART V MASTER OF HIGH COURT

24 Powers of Master of High Court.

25 Hearings by Master of High Court.

26 Sittings of Master of High Court.

PART VI TAXING MASTER OF HIGH COURT

27 Additional powers of Taxing Master of High Court.

PART VII QUALIFICATION OF JUDGES

28 Amendment of section 5 of Act of 1961.

29 Amendment of section 14 of Courts of Justice Act, 1936.

30 Amendment of section 17 of Act of 1961.

31 Amendment of section 2 of Courts Act, 1973.

PART VIII CIRCUIT COURT

32 Transfer of trials in criminal cases by judges of Circuit Court.

33 Ex officio judge of Circuit Court.

34 Hearings by County Registrar.

35 Amendment of section 9 of Court Officers Act, 1945.

36 Amendment of section 2 of Courts Act, 1977.

PART IX DISTRICT COURT

37 Temporary assignment of judge of district court.

38 Amendment of section 39 of Act of 1961.

39 Amendment of section 42 of Act of 1961.

40 Amendment of section 44 of Act of 1961.

41 Amendment of section 79 of Courts of Justice Act, 1924.

PART X MISCELLANEOUS

42 Amendment of section 34 of Courts of Justice Act, 1936.

43 Amendment of section 38 of Courts of Justice Act, 1936.

44 Right of appeal from Central Criminal Court.

45 Further powers of Superior Courts Rules Committee and Circuit Court Rules Committee.

46 Scales of costs.

47 Retirement age of judge of Supreme Court and High Court.

48 Funds for training and education of judges.

49 Court costume.

50 Claims for debts and liquidated sums.

51 Amendment of section 35 of Court Officers Act, 1926.

52 Amendment of section 29 of Charities Act, 1961.

53 Amendment of section 30 of the Judicial Separation and Family Law Reform Act, 1989.

54 Amendment of section 32 of the Judicial Separation and Family Law Reform Act, 1989.

FIRST SCHEDULE

SECOND SCHEDULE

AN ACT TO AMEND AND EXTEND THE COURTS OF JUSTICE ACT, 1924 , THE COURTS OF JUSTICE ACT, 1936 , THE COURT OFFICERS ACT, 1945 , THE COURTS (ESTABLISHMENT AND CONSTITUTION) ACT, 1961 , THE COURTS (SUPPLEMENTAL PROVISIONS) ACTS, 1961 TO 1991, THE COURTS ACT, 1973 , THE COURTS ACT, 1981 , THE COURTS-MARTIAL APPEALS ACT, 1983 , TO ESTABLISH A JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS ADVISORY BOARD AND TO MAKE PROVISION IN RESPECT OF THAT BOARD, TO FACILITATE JUDICIAL TRAINING, TO AMEND AND EXTEND THE POWERS OF THE MASTER OF THE HIGH COURT, THE TAXING MASTERS OF THE HIGH COURT AND THE COUNTY REGISTRARS, TO EXTEND THE POWERS OF THE SUPERIOR COURTS RULES COMMITTEE AND CIRCUIT COURT RULES COMMITTEE, TO PROHIBIT THE WEARING OF WIGS BY BARRISTERS OR SOLICITORS IN COURT, TO AMEND AND EXTEND THE CHARITIES ACTS, 1961 AND 1973, AND TO PROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS.

[15th December, 1995]

BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS: