Off On Dualscroll
Turn Dualscroll on to scroll both language versions together.
Uimhir 38 de 1961.
ACHT NA gCÚIRTEANNA (BUNÚ AGUS COMHDHÉANAMH), 1961
[An tiontú oifigiúil.]
Bunú agus comhdhéanamh na Cúirte Uachtaraí.
1.—(1) I dtosach feidhme an Achta seo, beidh an Chúirt Achomhairc Dheiridh, dar teideal de bhun Airteagal 34 den Bhunreacht An Chúirt Uachtarach (The Supreme Court), arna bunú.
(2) Beidh an Chúirt Uachtarach comhdhéanta de na breithiúna seo a leanas—
(a) uachtarán na cúirte sin, eadhon, An Príomh-Bhreitheamh (The Chief Justice), agus
(b) cibé líon (nach lú ná ceathrar) gnáth-bhreithiúna (a ngairfear de gach duine acu “Breitheamh den Chúirt Uachtarach” (“Judge of the Supreme Court”)) a shocrófar ó am go ham le hAcht ón Oireachtas.
(3) Is breitheamh breise den Chúirt Uachtarach ex officio Uachtarán na hArd-Chúirte
(4) Más rud é, toisc breitheamh den Chúirt Uachtarach a bheith breoite nó ar chúis ar bith eile, nach mbeidh leorlion breithiúna den Chúirt Uachtarach ar fáil chun gnó na Cúirte sin a dhéanamh, féadfaidh an Príomh-Bhreitheamh a iarraidh ar ghnáth-bhreitheamh nó gnáth-bhreithiúna ar bith den Ard-Chúirt suíle linn éisteacht aon achomhairc chun na Cúirte Uachtaraí nó aon ábhair eile is intriailte ag an gCúirt Uachtarach, agus aon bhreitheamh a n-iarrfar sin air amhlaidh suífidh sé le linn éisteacht an achomhairc nó an ábhair eile sin agus beidh sé ina bhreitheamh breise den Chúirt Uachtarach i leith an achomhairc nó an ábhair eile sin.
Bunú agus comhdhéanmh na hArd-Chúirte.
2.—(1) I dtosach feidhme an Achta seo, beidh an Chúirt Chéadchéime ar a dtugtar an Ard-Chúirt (The High Court) in Airteagal 34 den Bhunreacht arna bunú.
(2) Beidh an Ard-Chúirt comhdhéanta de na breithiúna seo a leanas—
(a) uachtarán na cúirte sin, dá ngairfear “Uachtarán na hArd-Chúirte” (“The President of the High Court”), agus
(b) cibé líon gnáth-bhreithiúna (a ngairfear de gach duine acu “Breitheamh den Ard-Chúirt” (“Judge of the High Court”)) a shocrófar ó am go ham le hAcht ón Oireachtas.
(3) Is breitheamh breise den Ard-Chúirt ex officio an Príomh-Bhreitheamh.
(4) Is breitheamh breise den Ard-Chúirt ex officio Uachtarán na Cúirte Cuarda.
(5) (a) Más rud é, toisc breitheamh den Ard-Chúirt a bheith breoite nó ar chúis ar bith eile, nach mbeidh leorlíon breithiúna den Ard-Chúirt ar fáil chun gnó na Cúirte sin a dhéanamh nó, mar gheall ar an méid gnó atá le déanamh san Ard-Chúirt nó ar chúis ar bith eile de bharr staid an ghnó sa Chúirt sin, gurb oircheas an líon breithiúna atá ar fáil chun críocha na hArd-Chúirte a mhéadú go sealadach, féadfaidh an Príomh-Bhreitheamh, ar Uachtarán na hArd-Chúirte dá iarraidh sin air, a iarraidh ar ghnáth-bhreitheamh ar bith den Chúirt Uachtarach suí san Ard-Chúirt mar bhreitheamh breise di, agus gach gnáth-bhreitheamh den Chúirt Uachtarach a n-iarrfar sin air amhlaidh suífidh sé san Ard-Chúirt.
(b) Aon uair a shuífidh gnáth-bhreitheamh den Chúirt Uachtarach san Ard-Chúirt de bhun an fho-ailt seo, beidh sé ina bhreitheamh breise den Ard-Chúirt chun críocha uile na Cúirte sin.
Bunú agus comhdhéanamh na Cúirte Achomhairc Choiriúil.
3.—(1) I dtosach feidhme an Achta seo, beidh Cúirt Achomhairc, dar teideal An Chúirt Achomhairc Choiriúil (The Court of Criminal Appeal), arna bunú.
(2) Chun aon achomharc áirithe is intriailte ag an gCúirt Achomhairc Choiriúil a éisteacht agus a chinneadh, déanfar an Chúirt Achomhairc Choiriúil a chomóradh de réir orduithe a thabharfaidh an Príomh-Bhreitheamh, agus beidh an Chúirt comhdhéanta go cuí má bhíonn triúr breitheamh ar a laghad inti agus—
(a) gur duine acu—
(i) an Príomh-Bhreitheamh, nó
(ii) gnáth-bhreitheamh den Chúirt Uachtarach arna ainmniú ag an bPríomh-Bhreitheamh, agus
(b) gurb iad an bheirt eile—
(i) beirt ghnáth-bhreitheamh den Ard-Chúirt arna n-ainmniú ag an bPríomh-Bhreitheamh, nó
(ii) Uachtarán na hArd-Chúirte, i gcás é dá ainmniú ag an bPríomh-Bhreitheamh agus é a bheith toilteanach gníomhú, agus gnáth-bhreitheamh amháin den Ard-Chúirt arna ainmniú ag an bPríomh-Bhreitheamh,
ach féadfaidh breitheamh nó breithiúna ar bith eile a bheidh ar fáil den Chúirt Uachtarach nó den Ard-Chúirt freastal mar chomhalta nó comhaltaí den Chúirt, ar an bPríomh-Bhreitheamh dá iarraidh sin.
Bunú agus comhdhéanamh na Cúirte Cuarda.
4.—(1) I dtosach feidhme an Achta seo, beidh Cúirt Chéadchéime, dar teideal An Chúirt Chuarda (The Circuit Court), arna bunú.
(2) Beidh an Chúirt Chuarda comhdhéanta de na breithiúna seo a leanas—
(a) breitheamh, dá ngairfear “Uachtarán na Cúirte Cuarda” (“The President of the Circuit Court”), agus
(b) cibé líon gnáth-bhreithiúna (a ngairfear de gach duine acu “Breitheamh den Chúirt Chuarda” (Judge of the Circuit Court”)) a shocrófar ó am go ham le hAcht ón Oireachtas.
Bunú agus comhdhéanamh na Cúirte Dúiche.
5.—(1) I dtosach feidhme an Achta seo; beidh Cúirt Chéadchéime, dar teideal An Chúirt Dúiche (The District Court), arna bunú.
(2) Beidh an Chúirt Dúiche comhdhéanta de na breithiúna seo a leanas—
(a) breitheamh dá ngairfear “Uachtarán na Cúirte Dúiche” (“The President of the District Court”), agus
(b) cibé líon de bhreithiúna eile (a ngairfear de gach duine acu “Breitheamh den Chúirt Dúiche” (“Justice of the District Court”)) a shocrófar ó am go ham le hAcht ón Oireachtas.
Scaradh le hoifig bhreithiúnach agus líonadh folúntais.
6.—(1) San alt seo, ciallaíonn an abairt “oifig bhreithiúnach” oifig arb í oifig í—
(a) oifig an Phríomh-Bhreithimh, Uachtarán na hArd-Chúirte, ghnáth-bhreithimh den Chúirt Uachtarach, ghnáthbhreithimh den Ard-Chúirt, Uachtarán na Cúirte Cuarda nó ghnáth-bhreithimh den Chúirt Chuarda, nó
(b) oifig Uachtarán na Cúirte Dúiche nó bhreithimh den Chúirt Dúiche.
(2) Féadfaidh duine ar bith scaradh le hoifig bhreithiúnach a bheidh ar seilbh aige trína éirí as oifig a chur in iúl i scríbhinn faoina láimh a bheidh dírithe chun an Uachtaráin agus a chuirfear chun an Taoisigh.
(3) Aon duine a mbeidh oifig bhreithiúnach ar seilbh aige scarfaidh sé leis an oifig sin ar é a cheapadh, lena thoiliú, d'oifig bhreithiúnach eile.
(4) Gach duine a bhí, díreach roimh thosach feidhme an Achta seo, ina bhreitheamh d'aon chúirt bhreithiúnais dá luaitear in Airteagal 58 den Bhunreacht, scarfaidh sé leis an oifig a bhí ar seilbh aige ar é a cheapadh, lena thoiliú, d'oifig bhreithiúnach.
(5) Measfar gach Cúirt acu seo a leanas, eadhon, an Chúirt Uachtarach, an Ard-Chúirt agus an Chúirt Chuarda, a bheith comhdhéanta go cuí le linn agus d'ainneoin aon fholúntais in oifig aon bhreithimh den Chúirt sin.
(6) Measfar an Chúirt Dúiche a bheith comhdhéanta go cuí le linn agus d'ainneoin aon fholúntais in oifig Uachtarán na Cúirte sin nó in oifig aon bhreithimh di.
(7) I gcás oifig bhreithiúnach a bheith folamh, féadfar duine a cheapadh chun an folúntas a líonadh.
Na cúirteanna a luaitear in Airteagal 58 den Bhunreacht a scor de dhlínse a oibriú, na cúirteanna sin a dhíbhunú agus oifigi breithiúna na gcúirteanna sin a dhíchur.
7.—(1) San alt seo ciallaíonn an abairt “na cúirteanna do láthair” na cúirteanna breithiúnais éagsúla a luaitear in Airteagal 58 den Bhunreacht.
(2) I dtosach feidhme an Achta seo, scoirfidh na cúirteanna do láthair de dhlínse ar bith a oibriú.
(3) Nuair a bheidh gach duine a bhí, díreach roimh thosach feidhme an Achta seo, i seilbh oifig bhreithimh d'aon cheann de na cúirteanna do láthair tar éis scaradh leis an oifig sin—
(a) scoirfidh na cúirteanna do láthair de bheith ar bun,
(b) beidh gach oifig acu sin arna díchur.
Gearrtheideal agus tosach feidhme.
8.—(1) Féadfar Acht na gCúirteanna (Bunú agus Comhdhéanamh), 1961, a ghairm den Acht seo.
(2) Tiocfaidh an tAcht seo i ngníomh ar cibé dáta a shocrófar chuige sin le hordú ón Rialtas.
Number 38 of 1961.
COURTS (ESTABLISHMENT AND CONSTITUTION) ACT, 1961.
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
Section | |
Establishment and constitution of the Court of Criminal Appeal. | |
Number 38 of 1961.
COURTS (ESTABLISHMENT AND CONSTITUTION) ACT, 1961.
Establishment and constitution of the Supreme Court.
1.—(1) On the commencement of this Act, the Court of Final Appeal, which in pursuance of Article 34 of the Constitution is to be called An Chúirt Uachtarach (The Supreme Court), shall stand established.
(2) The Supreme Court shall be constituted of the following judges—
(a) the president thereof, namely, An Príomh-Bhreitheamh (The Chief Justice), and
(b) such number (not being less than four) of ordinary judges (each of whom shall be styled “Breitheamh den Chúirt Uachtarach” (“Judge of the Supreme Court”)) as may from time to time be fixed by Act of the Oireachtas.
(3) The President of the High Court shall be ex officio an additional judge of the Supreme Court.
(4) Where, owing to the illness of a judge of the Supreme Court or for any other reason, a sufficient number of judges of the Supreme Court is not available for the transaction of the business of that Court, the Chief Justice may request any ordinary judge or judges of the High Court to sit on the hearing of any appeal to or other matter cognisable by the Supreme Court, and any judge so requested shall sit on the hearing of such appeal or other matter and be an additional judge of the Supreme Court for such appeal or other matter.
Establishment and constitution of the High Court.
2.—(1) On the commencement of this Act, the Court of First Instance referred to in Article 34 of the Constitution as An Ard-Chúirt (The High Court) shall stand established.
(2) The High Court shall be constituted of the following judges—
(a) the president thereof, who shall be styled “Uachtarán na hArd-Chúirte” (“The President of the High Court”), and
(b) such number of ordinary judges (each of whom shall be styled “Breitheamh den Ard-Chúirt” (“Judge of the High Court”)) as may from time to time be fixed by Act of the Oireachtas.
(3) The Chief Justice shall be ex officio an additional judge of the High Court.
(4) The President of the Circuit Court shall be ex officio an additional judge of the High Court.
(5) (a) Where, owing to the illness of a judge of the High Court or for any other reason, a sufficient number of judges of the High Court is not available for the transaction of the business of that Court or, on account of the volume of business to be transacted in the High Court or for any other reason arising from the state of business in that Court, it is expedient to increase temporarily the number of judges available for the purposes of the High Court, the Chief Justice, at the request of the President of the High Court, may request any ordinary judge of the Supreme Court to sit in the High Court as an additional judge thereof, and every ordinary judge of the Supreme Court so requested shall sit in the High Court.
(b) Whenever an ordinary judge of the Supreme Court sits in the High Court in pursuance of this subsection, he shall be an additional judge of the High Court for all the purposes of that Court.
Establishment and constitution of the Court of Criminal Appeal.
3.—(1) On the commencement of this Act, a Court of Appeal, which shall be called An Chúirt Achomhairc Choiriúil (The Court of Criminal Appeal), shall stand established.
(2) For the purpose of hearing and determining any particular appeal cognisable by the Court of Criminal Appeal, the Court of Criminal Appeal shall be summoned in accordance with directions to be given by the Chief Justice, and the Court shall be duly constituted if it consists of not less than three judges—
(a) of whom one shall be either—
(i) the Chief Justice, or
(ii) an ordinary judge of the Supreme Court nominated by the Chief Justice, and
(b) of whom the other two shall be either—
(i) two ordinary judges of the High Court nominated by the Chief Justice, or
(ii) the President of the High Court, if nominated by the Chief Justice and willing to act, and one ordinary judge of the High Court nominated by the Chief Justice,
but any other available judge or judges of the Supreme Court or the High Court may, at the request of the Chief Justice, attend as a member or members of the Court.
Establishment and constitution of the Circuit Court.
4.—(1) On the commencement of this Act, a Court of First Instance, which shall be called An Chúirt Chuarda (The Circuit Court) shall stand established.
(2) The Circuit Court shall be constituted of the following judges—
(a) a judge, who shall be styled “Uachtarán na Cúirte Cuarda” (“The President of the Circuit Court”), and
(b) such number of ordinary judges (each of whom shall be styled “Breitheamh den Chúirt Chuarda” (“Judge of the Circuit Court”)) as may from time to time be fixed by Act of the Oireachtas.
Establishment and constitution of the District Court.
5.—(1) On the commencement of this Act, a Court of First Instance, which shall be called An Chúirt Dúiche (The District Court), shall stand established.
(2) The District Court shall be constituted of the following judges—
(a) a judge who shall be styled “Uachtarán na Cúirte Dúiche” (“The President of the District Court”), and
(b) such number of other judges (each of whom shall be styled “Breitheamh den Chúirt Dúiche” (“Justice of the District Court”)) as may from time to time be fixed by Act of the Oireachtas.
Vacation of judicial office and filling of vacancy.
6.—(1) In this section, the expression “judicial office” means an office being—
(a) the office of Chief Justice, President of the High Court, ordinary judge of the Supreme Court, ordinary judge of the High Court, President of the Circuit Court or ordinary judge of the Circuit Court, or
(b) the office of President of the District Court or justice of the District Court.
(2) A judicial office held by any person may be vacated by resignation in writing under his hand addressed to the President and transmitted to the Taoiseach.
(3) A judicial office held by any person shall be vacated by his being appointed, with his consent, to another judicial office.
(4) The office held by each person who, immediately before the commencement of this Act, was a judge or justice of any of the courts of justice mentioned in Article 58 of the Constitution shall be vacated by his being appointed, with his consent, to a judicial office.
(5) Each of the following Courts, namely, the Supreme Court, the High Court and the Circuit Court, shall be deemed to be duly constituted during and notwithstanding any vacancy in the office of any judge of that Court.
(6) The District Court shall be deemed to be duly constituted during and notwithstanding any vacancy in the office of President or any justice thereof.
(7) Where a vacancy occurs in a judicial office, a person may be appointed to fill the vacancy.
Cesser of exercise of jurisdiction by courts mentioned in Article 58 of the Constitution, disestablishment of those courts and abolition of offices of judges and justices thereof.
7.—(1) In this section, the expression “the existing courts” means the several courts of justice mentioned in Article 58 of the Constitution.
(2) The existing courts shall, on the commencement of this Act, cease to exercise any jurisdiction.
(3) When every person who immediately before the commencement of this Act held the office of judge or justice of any of the existing courts has vacated that office—
(a) the existing courts shall cease to be established,
(b) every such office shall stand abolished.
Short title and commencement.
8.—(1) This Act may be cited as the Courts (Establishment and Constitution) Act, 1961.
(2) This Act shall come into operation on such date as may be fixed therefor by order of the Government.