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Uimhir 20 de 1947.
AN tACHT CÚIRTEANNA BREITHIÚNAIS, 1947.
[An tiontó oifigiúil.]
ACHTAÍTEAR AG AN OIREACHTAS MAR LEANAS:—
CUID I.
Reamhraiteach agus Ginearalta.
Gearrtheideal agus comhlua.
1.—(1) Féadfar an tAcht Cúirteanna Breithiúnais, 1947, a ghairm den Acht seo.
(2) Féadfar na hAchta Cúirteanna Breithiúnais, 1924 go 1947, a ghairm de na hAchta Cúirteanna Breithiúnais, 1924 go 1946, agus den Acht seo le chéile.
Tosach feidhme.
2.—(1) Is tuigthe an Chuid seo agus Cuid II den Acht seo a theacht i ngníomh an 1ú lá d'Aibreán, 1947, agus beidh éifeacht acu amhail ar an lá sin agus uaidh sin amach.
(2) Tiocfaidh Cuid III den Acht seo i ngníomh pé lá a ceapfar chuige sin le hordú ón Aire.
(3) Tiocfaidh Cuid IV agus Cuid V den Acht seo i ngníomh díreach ar an Acht seo a rith.
Léiriú.
3.—(1) San Acht seo—
ciallaíonn an abairt “Acht 1928” an tAcht Cúirteanna Breithiúnais, 1928 (Uimh. 15 de 1928);
ciallaíonn an abairt “Acht 1936” an tAcht Cúirteanna Breithiúnais, 1936 (Uimh. 48 de 1936);
ciallaíonn an abairt “Acht 1946” an tAcht Cúirteanna Breithiúnais, 1946 (Uimh. 21 de 1946);
ciallaíonn an focal “cuaird” cuaird den Chúirt Chuarda;
ciallaíonn an abairt “Breitheamh Cuarda” Breitheamh den Chúirt Chuarda;
ciallaíonn an abairt “Breitheamh do Chuaird Bhaile Atha Cliath” Breitheamh Cuarda atá sannaithe go buan do Chuaird Bhaile Atha Cliath, ach ní fholaíonn sí aon Bhreitheamh den tsórt sin arb é Uachtarán na Cúirte Cuarda é;
ciallaíonn an abairt “an tAire” an tAire Dlí agus Cirt;
ciallaíonn an abairt “an Príomh-Acht” an tAcht Cúirteanna Breithiúnais, 1924 (Uimh. 10 de 1924).
(2) Léireofar mar aon ní amháin an tAcht seo agus na hAchta Cúirteanna Breithiúnais, 1924 go 1946.
Athghairm.
4.—(1) Déantar leis seo na hachtacháin a sonraítear i gcolún (2) de Chuid I den Sceideal a ghabhas leis an Acht seo a athghairm, a mhéid a sonraítear i gcolún (3) den Chuid sin I, amhail ar dháta an Achta seo a rith agus uaidh sin amach.
(2) Déantar leis seo na hachtacháin a sonraítear i gcolún (2) de Chuid II den Sceideal a ghabhas leis an Acht seo a athghairm, a mhéid a sonraítear i gcolún (3) den Chuid sin II, amhail ar dháta thosach feidhme Coda III den Acht seo agus uaidh sin amach.
CUID II.
Tuarastail Bhreithiun.
Tuarastail Bhreithiún na Cúirte Uachtaraí agus na hArd-Chúirte a mhéadú.
5.—Déanfar na tuarastail bhliantúla faoi seach is iníoctha faoi alt 13 (a bhaineas le tuarastail Bhreithiún na Cúirte Uachtaraí agus na hArd-Chúirte) den Phríomh-Acht a mhéadú,—
(a) i gcás gach gnáth-Bhreithiún den Ard-Chúirt, fiche faoin gcéad, agus
(b) i ngach cás eile, cúig déag faoin gcéad.
Tuarastal Uachtaráin na Cúirte Cuarda.
6.—(1) Gheobhaidh Uachtarán na Cúirte Cuarda an tuarastal bliantúil céanna a gheobhaidh gnáth-Breitheamh den Ard-Chúirt.
(2) Is ar an bPríomh-Chiste nó ar a thoradh fáis a bheas muirear agus íoc an tuarastail is iníoctha le hUachtarán na Cúirte Cuarda.
(3) Ní bheidh feidhm maidir le hUachtarán na Cúirte Cuarda ag an méid sin d'alt 41 den Phríomh-Acht a cheapas tuarastal Breithimh Chuarda.
Tuarastail Bhreithiún Cuarda a mhéadú.
7.—Méadófar cúig fichead faoin gcéad na tuarastail bhliantúla is iníoctha faoi alt 41 (a bhaineas le tuarastail agus pinsin Bhreithiún Cuarda) den Phríomh-Acht.
Tuarastail Bhreithiún na Cúirte Dúiche a mhéadú.
8.—Méadófar triocha faoin gcéad na tuarastail bhliantúla faoi seach is iníoctha faoi Alt 74 (a bhaineas le tuarastail Bhreithiún na Cúirte Dúiche) den Phríomh-Acht nó faoi alt 8 (a bhaineas le tuarastail na mBreithiún do Chathair Bhaile Atha Cliath) d'Acht 1946.
CUID III.
Uachtaran na Cuirte Cuarda agus a Chumhachta agus a Dhualgais.
Uachtarán na Cúirte Cuarda.
9.—(1) Beidh Uachtarán ar an gCúirt Chuarda.
(2) D'ainneoin aon ní sna hAchta Cúirteanna Breithiúnais, 1924 go 1946, beidh Uachtarán na Cúirte Cuarda ina bhreitheamh breise ex-officio den Ard-Chúirt.
(3) Déanfaidh an tUachtarán, ag gníomhú dhó ar chomhairle an Rialtais, Uachtarán na Cúirte Cuarda a cheapadh as líon na mBreithiún Cuarda agus beidh tosach aige ar gach Breitheamh Cuarda eile.
(4) An duine a ceapfar ina Uachtarán ar an gCúirt Chuarda sealbhóidh sé an oifig sin faid a shealbhós sé oifig Bhreithiún Chuarda.
Cumhachta Uachtaráin na Cúirte Cuarda.
10.—(1) Chun a áirithiú go ndéanfar obair na Cúirte Cuarda a roinnt go cothrom idir na Breithiún uile agus faoi seach den Chúirt sin agus go ndéanfar go hurlamh gnó na Cúirte Cuarda i gcuarda eile agus faoi seach na Cúirte sin, beidh ag Uachtarán na Cúirte Cuarda agus feidhmeoidh sé na cumhachta a bheirteai dó le fo-ailt (2), (3), (4), (5) agus (6) den alt seo.
(2) (a) Féadfaidh Uachtarán na Cúirte Cuarda ó am go ham, le hordú, a shocrú, maidir le haon chuaird, cad iad na háiteanna sa chuaird sin ina gcomórfar suíonna, agus aon uair a bheas ordú, arna dhéanamh faoin mír seo maidir le cuaird, i bhfeidhm, is sna háiteanna a bheas socair leis an ordú sin agus ní in aon áit eile a comórfar suíonna laistigh den chuaird sin.
(b) Féadfaidh Uachtarán na Cúirte Cuarda ó am go ham, le hordú, a shocrú, maidir le haon chuaird, cad iad na dátaí ar a dtosnóidh suíonna i ngach áit faoi leith sa chuaird sin ina gcomórfar suíonna agus, aon uair a bheas ordú faoin mír seo i bhfeidhm, tosnóidh suíonna i ngach áit den tsórt sin do réir an orduithe.
(c) Féadfaidh Uachtarán na Cúirte Cuarda tráth ar bith, le hordú, ordú arna dhéanamh faoin bhfo-alt seo (agus an mhír seo a áireamh) a chúlghairm nó a leasú.
(d) Sar a bhfeidhmeoidh Uachtarán na Cúirte Cuarda a chumhachta faoin bhfo-alt seo maidir le cuaird, raghaidh sé i gcomhairle, ar dtúis, leis an mBreitheamh Cuarda a bheas sannaithe go buan don chuaird sin.
(e) Gach ordú a déanfar faoin bhfo-alt seo foilseofar é, a luaithe is féidir tar éis a dhéanta, i pé slí a ordós Uachtarán na Cúirte Cuarda.
(f) Sa bhfo-alt seo ciallaíonn an focal “suíonna” suíonna den Chúirt Chuarda.
(3) (a) Féadfaidh Uachtarán na Cúirte Cuarda, tráth ar bith, aon Bhreitheamh Cuarda, pé acu bheas nó ná beidh sé sannaithe go buan do chuaird eile, a shannadh d'aon chuaird (pé acu bheas nó ná beidh Breitheamh Cuarda buan-shannaithe don chuaird sin).
(b) I gcás ina ndéanfar Breitheamh Cuarda a bheas sannaithe go buan do chuaird áirithe a shannadh go sealadach faoin bhfo-alt seo do chuaird eile, ní dhéanfaidh an sannadh sealadach sin forceannadh ar an sannadh buan sin ná ní dhéanfaidh difir dó ná ní bhainfidh den Bhreitheamh sin aon phríbhléid, cumchacht ná dualgas dá mbeidh dílsithe ann nó forchurtha air de bhuaidh an tsannuithe bhuain sin.
(4) I gcás ina gceapfar duine faoi alt 14 d'Acht 1936 chun gníomhú mar Bhreitheamh Cuarda, féadfaidh Uachtarán na Cúirte Cuarda, i rith na tréimhse dá mbeidh an duine sin ceaptha amhlaidh, é a shannadh ó am go ham d'aon chuaird, pé acu bheas nó ná beidh Breitheamh Cuarda sannaithe go buan don chuaird sin.
(5) (a) Má bhíonn beirt Bhreithiún Chuarda nó níos mó sannaithe (go buan nó go sealadach) de thuras na huaire do chuaird áirithe, féadfaidh Uachtarán na Cúirte Cuarda, tar éis do dul i gcomhairle leis na Breithiúin Chuarda sin, gnó na Cúirte Cuarda sa chuaird sin a dháiliú ó am go ham idir na Breithiúin Chuarda sin.
(b) Léireofar tagairtí sa bhfo-alt seo do Bhreithiúin Chuarda mar thagairtí a fholaíos daoine arna gceapadh faoi alt 14 d'Acht 1936 chun gníomhú mar Bhreithiúin Chuarda.
(6) Chun a chumasú d'Uachtarán na Cúirte Cuarda a fheadhma faoin alt seo a chomhlíonadh, déanfaidh an claráitheoir contae do chontae nó do chontae-bhuirg, ar Uachtarán na Cúirte Cuarda dá iarraidh sin air, pé sonraí a thabhairt dó, i dtaobh gnótha na Cúirte Cuarda sa chontae nó sa chontae-bhuirg sin, a sonrófar san iarratas.
(7) Má bhíonn Uachtarán na Cúirte Cuarda éagumasach ar ghníomhú ar feadh aon tréimhse, ansin, ar feadh na tréimhse sin, beidh ag Breitheamh Cuarda Bhaile Atha Cliath nó (má bhíonn níos mó ná Breitheamh Cuarda amháin ann) ag an duine is sinsearaí de Bhreithiún Chuarda Bhaile Atha Cliath, agus feidhmeoidh sé, na cumhachta a bheirtear d'Uachtarán na Cúirte Cuarda le fo-ailt (2), (3), (4), (5) agus (6) den alt seo.
Dualgais agus cumhachta Breithiún Cuarda a bheas sannaithe go sealadach do chuarda.
11.—(1) I gcás ina mbeidh Breitheamh Cuarda sannaithe go sealadach, faoi alt 10 den Acht seo, do chuaird, ansin, faid a bheas sé sannaithe go sealadach amhlaidh, beidh ag an mBreitheamh Cuarda sin agus beidh infheidhmithe aige, maidir leis an gcuaird sin agus i gcomhréim leis an mBreitheamh Cuarda a bheas sannaithe go buan di agus le haon Bhreitheamh Cuarda eile a bheas sannaithe go sealadach amhlaidh don chuaird sin, na príbhléidí, na cumhachta agus na dualgais uile a bheas bronnta nó forchurtha, de thuras na huaire, le dlí ar Bhreitheamh Cuarda a bheas sannaithe go buan don chuaird sin.
(2) San alt seo folaíonn an abairt “Breitheamh Cuarda” duine arna cheapadh faoi alt 14 d'Acht 1936 chun gníomhú mar Bhreitheamh den Chúirt Chuarda.
Comhaltaí ex-officio de Choiste Rialacha na Cúirte Cuarda.
12.—Is iad a bheas ina gcomhaltaí ex-officio de Choiste Rialacha na Cúirte Cuarda a bunaíodh le halt 69 d'Acht 1936—
(a) Uachtarán na Cúirte Cuarda, a bheas ina chathaoirleach ar an gcoiste sin, agus
(b) an cláraitheoir contae do chontae agus do chathair Bhaile Átha Cliath, a bheas ina rúnaí don choiste sin.
CUID IV.
Forala Ilghneitheacha Maidir leis an gCuirt Chuarda.
Comhdhéanamh cuaird a athrú.
13.—(1) Féadfaidh an Rialtas ordú a dhéanamh ag athrú comhdhéanamh aon dá chuaird nó níos mó de na cuarda, ach sin i slí ná méadófar ar líon iomlán na gcuaird.
(2) Má déantar ordú faoi fho-alt (1) den alt seo, ansin, amhail ar dháta tosach feidhme an orduithe agus uaidh sin amach, léireofar gach tagairt sna hAchta Cúirteanna Breithiúnais, 1924 go 1946, agus san Acht seo, do chuarda mar thagairtí do chuarda amhail mar bheid díreach tar éis tosach feidhme an orduithe.
Breitheamh Cuarda breise a cheapadh.
14.—(1) D'ainneoin aon ní sna hAchta Cúirteanna Breithiúnais, 1924 go 1946, féadfar, mí ar a dhéanaí tar éis dáta an Achta seo a rith, duine amháin (is duine arna cheapadh, faoi alt 14 d'Acht 1936, chun gníomhú mar Bhreitheamh Cuarda do thréimhse ar laistigh di do dháta an Achta seo a rith) a cheapadh ina Bhreitheamh Cuarda.
(2) Beidh feidhm ag na forála seo a leanas maidir le duine a ceapfar de bhuaidh fo-ailt (1) den alt seo ina Bhreitheamh Cuarda—
(a) chun críocha an méid sin d'alt 41 den Phríomh-Acht a bhaineas le pinsin, is tuigthe é a bheith tar éis fónamh mar Bhreitheamh Cuarda ar feadh na tréimhse ceithre mblian dar críoch an lá díreach roimh dháta a cheaptha ina Bhreitheamh Cuarda,
(b) beidh deireadh lena cheapadh faoi alt 14 d'Acht 1936 ar é a cheapadh mar Bhreitheamh Cuarda,
(c) ní bheidh feidhm maidir leis ag fo-alt (1) d'alt 15 d'Acht 1936, ach féadfaidh an Rialtas tráth ar bith é a shannadh go buan do chuaird áirithe,
(d) go dtí dáta tosach feidhme Coda III den Acht seo nó dáta a bhuan-shannuithe do chuaird, pé dáta acu sin is luaithe, beidh feidhm maidir leis ag fo-alt (2) d'alt 14 d'Acht 1936 amhail mar bhaineas sé le duine dá dtagartar sa bhfo-alt sin (2).
(3) Faid a bheas duine a ceapfar ina Bhreitheamh Cuarda de bhuaidh fo-ailt (1) den alt seo i seilbh oifige agus gan bheith sannaithe go buan do chuaird, beidh éifeacht ag fo-alt (1) d'alt 9 d'Acht 1928 amhail is dá gcuirtí na focail “d'aon Bhreitheamh déag” in ionad na bhfocal “de dheichniúr Breithiún.”
An aois scoir do Bhreithiúin Chuarda.
15.—(1) Faoi réir fo-ailt (2) den alt seo, is seachtó bliain an aois scoir do Bhreitheamh Cuarda.
(2) Dhá bliain seachtód an aois scoir do dhuine is Breitheamh Cuarda ar dháta an Achta seo a rith nó don duine a ceapfar, de bhuaidh ailt 14 den Acht seo, ina Bhreitheamh Cuarda.
Breitheamh Cuarda do ríomh cáis.
16.—Féadfaidh Breitheamh Cuarda, ar iarratas chuige sin ó aon pháirtí in aon ní (seachas athéisteacht, faoi alt 196 den Income Tax Act, 1918, ar aon achomharc den tsórt dá dtagartar san alt sin) a bheas ar feitheamh os a chomhair, aon cheist dlí a éireos sa ní sin a chur, ar pé téarmaí maidir le costais nó eile is oiriúnach leis, faoi bhráid na Cúirte Uachtaraí i bhfoirm cháis ríofa chun go gcinnfidh an Chúirt Uachtarach é agus féadfaidh craoladh a bhreithe nó a orduithe sa ní a chur ar athló go dtí go gcinntear an cás ríofa sin.
Cumacht Bhreithiún Chuarda a bheas sannaithe do chuaird áirithe chun iarratais phráinneacha a éisteacht agus a chinneadh lasmuigh dá chuaird.
17.—D'ainneoin aon ní sna hAchta Cúirteanna Breithiúnais, 1924 go 1946, aon Bhreitheamh Cuarda a bheas sannaithe (go buan nó go sealadach) do chuaird áirithe, féadfaidh sé, lasmuigh den chuaird sin, aon iarratas a éisteacht agus a chinneadh a mbeidh dlínse aige é a éisteacht agus a chinneadh laistigh den chuaird sin agus ar dóigh leis gur ní é ar ceart deighleáil leis mar ní práinneach.
CUID V.
Pinsin Bhreithiun den Chuirt Duiche.
Pinsin Bhreithiún áirithe den Chúirt Dúiche.
18.—(1) Faoi réir fo-ailt (3) den alt seo, bainfidh na forála seo a leanas le gach Breitheamh 1936 láithreach:—
(a) mura ndéana agus go dtí go ndéanfaidh sé an roghnú dá bhforáltar i mír (b) den fho-alt seo, ní bhainfidh fo-alt (1) nó (2) (pé acu é) d'alt 48 d'Acht 1936 leis agus, ina ionad sin, bainfidh alt 75 (a hathghairmeadh le hAcht 1936) den Phríomh-Acht leis, amhail is ná beadh sé arna athghairm agus amhail is ná beadh alt 48 d'Acht 1936 arna achtú,
(b) féadfaidh sé, trí fhógra i scríbhinn a cuirfear chun an Aire Airgeadais tráth ar bith sar a scoirfidh sé de bheith i seilbh oifige, a roghnú glacadh leis na téarmaí pinsin a foráltar le fo-alt (1) nó (2) (pé acu é) d'alt 48 d'Acht 1936 agus, sa chás sin, ní bhainfidh an fo-alt sin (1) nó (2) leis.
(2) Bainfidh fo-alt (5) d'alt 48 d'Acht 1936 le haon phinsean arna dheonadh, de bhuaidh míre (a) d'fho-alt (1) den alt seo, faoi alt 75 den Phríomh-Acht.
(3) Aon Bhreitheamh 1936 láithreach a rinne an roghnú a luaitear i bhfo-alt (3) d'alt 48 d'Acht 1936, féadfaidh sé, trí fhógra i scríbhinn a cuirfear chun an Aire Airgeadais laistigh de thrí mhí tar éis dáta an Achta seo a rith, an roghnú sin a dhaingniú agus, sa chás sin, ní bhainfidh fo-alt (1) den alt seo leis.
(4) San alt seo ciallaíonn an abairt “Breitheamh 1936 láithreach” Breitheamh den Chúirt Dúiche a bhí i seilbh oifige ar dháta Achta 1936 a rith agus a bheas i seilbh oifige ar dháta an Achta seo a rith.
Pinsin, etc., Breithiún den Chúirt Dúiche ina muirear ar an bPríomh-Chiste.
19.—(1) Gach pinsean arna dheonadh faoi na hAchta do Bhreitheamh den Chúirt Dúiche agus gach dámhachtain faoi na hAchta Aoisliúntais, 1834 go 1946, arna deonadh de bhuaidh na nAcht, do Bhreitheamh den Chúirt Dúiche nó ina leith, beidh a mhuirear agus a íoc ar an bPríomh-Chiste nó ar a thoradh fáis.
(2) San alt seo, ciallaíonn an abairt “na hAchta” na hAchta Cúirteanna Breithiúnais, 1924 go 1946, agus an tAcht seo.
Aiscí i leith Breithiún marbha áirithe den Chúirt Dúiche.
20.—(1) I gcás—
(a) ná dearna Breitheamh (lena n-áirítear Breitheamh Cúnta) den Chúirt Dúiche, a bhí i seilbh oifige ar dháta Achta 1936 a rith, an roghnú dá bhforáltar le fo-alt (3) d'alt 48 d'Acht 1936, agus
(b) go bhfuair an Breitheamh sin bás roimh an Acht seo a rith agus le linn dó bheith i seilbh oifige,
féadfaidh an tAire Airgeadais aisce a íoc le hionadaithe pearsanta dlíthiúla an Bhreithimh sin is comhionann le méid a thuarastail bhliantúil ar dháta a bháis.
(2) Gach aisce is iníoctha faoin alt seo beidh a mhuirear agus a íoc ar an bPríomh-Chiste nó ar a thoradh fáis.
AN SCEIDEAL
Achtachain a hAthghairmtear.
CUID I.
Achtacháin a hathghairmtear amhail ar dháta an Achta seo a rith agus uaidh sin amach.
Uimhir agus Bliain | Gearrtheideal | Méid na hAthghairme |
(1) | (2) | (3) |
In alt 37, na focail go léir ó na focail “le toil an Phríomh-Bhreithimh” go dtí deireadh an ailt; Alt 40. | ||
An tAcht iomlán. | ||
Alt 22; fo-alt (7) d'alt 48 | ||
Fo-alt (2) d'alt 19. |
CUID II.
Achtacháin a hathghairmtear amhail ó thosach feidhme Coda III den Acht seo agus uaidh sin amach.
Uimhir agus Bliain | Gearrtheideal | Méid na bAthghairme |
(1) | (2) | (3) |
Alt 10. | ||
Fo-alt (2) d'alt 14; alt 16; fo-alt (3) d'alt 69. |
Number 20 of 1947.
COURTS OF JUSTICE ACT, 1947.
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
Preliminary and General.
Section | |
Salaries of Judges and Justices of the District Court.
Increase of salaries of Judges of the Supreme Court and High Court. | |
President of the Circuit Court and his Powers and Duties.
Duties and powers of Circuit Judges temporarily assigned to circuits. | |
Miscellaneous Provisions in relation to the Circuit Court.
Pensions of Justices of the District Court.
Charge of pensions, etc., of Justices of the District Court on the Central Fund. | |
Gratuities in respect of certain deceased Justices of the District Court. |
Acts Referred to | |
No. 15 of 1928 | |
No. 1 of 1931 | |
No. 48 of 1936 | |
No. 21 of 1946 | |
No. 10 of 1924 | |
Number 20 of 1947.
COURTS OF JUSTICE ACT, 1947.
PART I.
Preliminary and General.
Short title and collective citation.
1.—(1) This Act may be cited as the Courts of Justice Act, 1947.
(2) The Courts of Justice Acts, 1924 to 1946, and this Act may be cited together as the Courts of Justice Acts, 1924 to 1947.
Commencement.
2.—(1) This Part and Part II of this Act shall be deemed to have come into operation on, and shall have effect as on and from, the 1st day of April, 1947.
(2) Part III of this Act shall come into operation on such day as shall be fixed therefor by order of the Minister.
(3) Parts IV and V of this Act shall come into operation immediately upon the passing thereof.
Interpretation.
3.—(1) In this Act—
the expression “the Act of 1928” means the Courts of Justice Act, 1928 (No. 15 of 1928);
the expression “the Act of 1936” means the Courts of Justice Act, 1936 (No. 48 of 1936);
the expression “the Act of 1946” means the Courts of Justice (District Court) Act, 1946 (No. 21 of 1946);
the word “circuit” means a circuit of the Circuit Court;
the expression “Circuit Judge” means a Judge of the Circuit Court;
the expression “Dublin Circuit Judge” means a Circuit Judge permanently assigned to the Dublin Circuit, but does not include any such Judge who is President of the Circuit Court;
the expression “the Minister” means the Minister for Justice;
the expression “the Principal Act” means the Courts of Justice Act, 1924 (No. 10 of 1924).
(2) This Act shall be construed as one with the Courts of Justice Acts, 1924 to 1946.
Repeals.
4.—(1) The enactments specified in column (2) of Part I of the Schedule to this Act are, to the extent specified in column (3) of the said Part I, hereby repealed as on and from the date of the passing of this Act.
(2) The enactments specified in column (2) of Part II of the Schedule to this Act are, to the extent specified in column (3) of the said Part II, hereby repealed as on and from the commencement of Part III of this Act.
PART II.
Salaries of Judges and Justices of the District Court.
Increase of salaries of Judges of the Supreme Court and High Court.
5.—The respective annual salaries payable under section 13 (which relates to salaries of Judges of the Supreme Court and the High Court) of the Principal Act shall be increased,—
(a) in the case of each ordinary Judge of the High Court, by twenty per cent., and
(b) in every other case, by fifteen per cent.
Salary of President of the Circuit Court.
6.—(1) The President of the Circuit Court shall receive the same annual salary as an ordinary Judge of the High Court.
(2) The salary payable to the President of the Circuit Court shall be charged on and payable out of the Central Fund or the growing produce thereof.
(3) So much of section 41 of the Principal Act as fixes the salary of a Circuit Judge shall not apply in respect of the President of the Circuit Court.
Increase of salaries of Circuit Judges.
7.—The annual salaries payable under section 41 (which relates to salaries and pensions of Circuit Judges) of the Principal Act shall be increased by twenty-five per cent.
Increase of salaries of Justices of the District Court.
8.—The respective annual salaries payable under section 74 (which relates to salaries of Justices of the District Court) of the Principal Act or under section 8 (which relates to salaries of Dublin Metropolitan Justices) of the Act of 1946 shall be increased by thirty per cent.
PART III.
President of the Circuit Court and his Powers and Duties.
President of the Circuit Court.
9.—(1) There shall be a President of the Circuit Court.
(2) The President of the Circuit Court shall notwithstanding anything contained in the Courts of Justice Acts, 1924 to 1946, be ex-officio an additional Judge of the High Court.
(3) The President of the Circuit Court shall be appointed from amongst the Circuit Judges by the President acting on the advice of the Government and shall take precedence over all other Circuit Judges.
(4) The person appointed to be President of the Circuit Court shall hold that office so long as he holds the office of Circuit Judge.
Powers of the President of the Circuit Court.
10.—(1) For ensuring an equitable distribution of the work of the Circuit Court amongst the several Judges thereof and the prompt despatch of the business of the Circuit Court in the several circuits thereof, the President of the Circuit Court shall have and exercise the powers conferred on him by subsections (2), (3), (4), (5) and (6) of this section.
(2) (a) The President of the Circuit Court may, from time to time, by order fix, in respect of any circuit, the places therein at which sittings are to be held, and whenever an order, made under this paragraph in relation to a circuit, is in force, sittings within that circuit shall be held at the places fixed by the order and not elsewhere.
(b) The President of the Circuit Court may, from time to time, by order fix, in respect of any circuit, the dates on which sittings shall commence at each place therein at which sittings are to be held, and, whenever an order under this paragraph is in force, sittings shall commence at each such place in accordance with the order.
(c) The President of the Circuit Court may at any time by order revoke or amend an order made under this subsection (including this paragraph).
(d) The President of the Circuit Court shall, before exercising his powers under this subsection in respect of a circuit, first consult the Circuit Judge permanently assigned to that circuit.
(e) Every order made under this subsection shall, as soon as may be after it is made, be published in such manner as the President of the Circuit Court may direct.
(f) In this subsection the word “sittings” means sittings of the Circuit Court.
(3) (a) The President of the Circuit Court may at any time temporarily assign to any circuit (whether there is or is not a Circuit Judge permanently assigned thereto) any Circuit Judge, whether he is or is not permanently assigned to another circuit.
(b) Where a Circuit Judge who is permanently assigned to a particular circuit is temporarily assigned under this subsection to another circuit, such temporary assignment shall not terminate or affect such permanent assignment or deprive or relieve him of any of the privileges, powers and duties vested in or imposed on him by virtue of such permanent assignment.
(4) Where a person is appointed under section 14 of the Act of 1936 to act as a Circuit Judge, the President of the Circuit Court may, during the period for which that person is so appointed, from time to time assign him to any circuit, whether there is or is not a Circuit Judge permanently assigned thereto.
(5) (a) Where two or more Circuit Judges are for the time being assigned (whether permanently or temporarily) to a particular circuit, the President of the Circuit Court, after consultation with the said Circuit Judges, may, from time to time, allocate the business of the Circuit Court in that circuit amongst the said Circuit Judges.
(b) References in this subsection to Circuit Judges shall be construed as including references to persons appointed under section 14 of the Act of 1936 to act as Circuit Judges.
(6) For the purposes of enabling the President of the Circuit Court to perform his functions under this section, the county registrar for a county or a county borough shall, when so requested by the President of the Circuit Court, furnish to him such particulars, in relation to the business of the Circuit Court in such county or county borough, as may be specified in the request.
(7) If the President of the Circuit Court is unable to act during any period, then, during that period, the Dublin Circuit Judge or (if more than one) the senior of the Dublin Circuit Judges shall have and exercise the powers conferred on the President of the Circuit Court by subsections (2), (3), (4), (5) and (6) of this section.
Duties and powers of Circuit Judges temporarily assigned to circuits.
11.—(1) Where a Circuit Judge is temporarily assigned, under section 10 of this Act, to a circuit, then, such Circuit Judge shall, while so temporarily assigned, have, in relation to such circuit and concurrently with the Circuit Judge permanently assigned thereto and any other Circuit Judge who is so temporarily assigned to such circuit, all the privileges, powers and duties for the time being conferred or imposed by law on a Circuit Judge permanently assigned to such circuit.
(2) In this section the expression “Circuit Judge” includes a person appointed under section 14 of the Act of 1936 to act as a Judge of the Circuit Court.
Ex-officio members of the Circuit Court Rules Committee.
12.—The ex-officio members of the Circuit Court Rules Committee established by section 69 of the Act of 1936 shall be—
(a) the President of the Circuit Court, who shall be chairman of the said Committee, and
(b) the county registrar for the county and city of Dublin, who shall be secretary of the said committee.
PART IV.
Miscellaneous Provisions in relation to the Circuit Court.
Alteration of composition of circuits.
13.—(1) The Government may make an order altering, but not so as to increase the total number of circuits, the composition of any two or more of the circuits.
(2) If an order is made under subsection (1) of this section, then, as on and from the commencement of the order, all references, in the Courts of Justice Acts, 1924 to 1946, and this Act, to circuits shall be construed as references to circuits as existing immediately after the commencement of the order.
Appointment of additional Circuit Judge.
14.—(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Courts of Justice Acts, 1924 to 1946, one person (being a person who is appointed, under section 14 of the Act of 1936, to act as a Circuit Judge for a period within which the date of the passing of this Act falls) may, not later than one month after the date of the passing of this Act, be appointed a Circuit Judge.
(2) The following provisions shall apply in respect of a person appointed by virtue of subsection (1) of this section to be a Circuit Judge—
(a) for the purposes of so much of section 41 of the Principal Act as relates to pensions, he shall be deemed to have served as a Circuit Judge during the period of four years ending on the day immediately preceding the date of his appointment as a Circuit Judge,
(b) his appointment under section 14 of the Act of 1936 shall terminate on his appointment as a Circuit Judge,
(c) subsection (1) of section 15 of the Act of 1936 shall not apply in respect of him, but the Government may at any time permanently assign him to a particular circuit,
(d) until the commencement of Part III of this Act or the date of his permanent assignment to a circuit, whichever is the earlier, subsection (2) of section 14 of the Act of 1936 shall apply in respect of him as it applies to a person referred to in the said subsection (2).
(3) So long as a person appointed by virtue of subsection (1) of this section to be a Circuit Judge holds office and is not permanently assigned to a circuit, subsection (1) of section 9 of the Act of 1928 shall have effect as if the word “eleven” were substituted for the word “ten”.
Age of retirement of Circuit Judges.
15.—(1) Subject to subsection (2) of this section, the age of retirement of a Circuit Judge shall be seventy years.
(2) The age of retirement of a person who is a Circuit Judge at the passing of this Act or of the person appointed, by virtue of section 14 of this Act, to be a Circuit Judge shall be seventy-two years.
Case stated by Circuit Judge.
16.—A Circuit Judge may, if an application in that behalf is made by any party to any matter (other than a re-hearing, under section 196 of the Income Tax Act, 1918, of any such appeal as is referred to in the said section) pending before him, refer, on such terms as to costs or otherwise as he thinks fit, any question of law arising in such matter to the Supreme Court by way of case stated for the determination of the Supreme Court and may adjourn the pronouncement of his judgment or order in the matter pending the determination of such case stated.
Power of Circuit Judge assigned to a particular circuit to hear and determine urgent applications outside his circuit.
17.—Notwithstanding anything contained in the Courts of Justice Acts, 1924 to 1946, a Circuit Judge for the time being assigned (whether permanently or temporarily) to a particular circuit may, outside that circuit, hear and determine any application which he has jurisdiction to hear and determine within that circuit and which, in his opinion, should be dealt with as a matter of urgency.
PART V.
Pensions of Justices of the District Court.
Pensions of certain Justices of the District Court.
18.—(1) The following provisions shall, subject to subsection (3) of this section, apply to every existing 1936 Justice:—
(a) unless and until he makes the election provided for in paragraph (b) of this subsection, subsection (1) or (2) (as the case may be) of section 48 of the Act of 1936 shall not apply to him and, in lieu thereof, section 75 (repealed by the Act of 1936) of the Principal Act shall apply to him, as if it had not been repealed and as if section 48 of the Act of 1936 had not been enacted,
(b) he may, by notice in writing sent to the Minister for Finance at any time before he ceases to hold office, elect to accept the pension terms provided by subsection (1) or (2) (as the case may be) of section 48 of the Act of 1936 and, in that case, the said subsection (1) or (2) shall apply to him.
(2) Subsection (5) of section 48 of the Act of 1936 shall apply to any pension granted, by virtue of paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of this section, under section 75 of the Principal Act.
(3) Any existing 1936 Justice, who made the election mentioned in subsection (3) of section 48 of the Act of 1936, may, by notice in writing sent to the Minister for Finance within three months after the date of the passing of this Act, confirm such election and, in that case, subsection (1) of this section shall not apply to him.
(4) In this section the expression “existing 1936 Justice” means a Justice of the District Court who held office at the date of the passing of the Act of 1936 and holds office at the date of the passing of this Act.
Charge of pensions, etc., of Justices of the District Court on the Central Fund.
19.—(1) Every pension granted under the Acts to a Justice of the District Court and every award under the Superannuation Acts, 1834 to 1946, granted, by virtue of the Acts, to or in respect of a Justice of the District Court shall be charged on and payable out of the Central Fund or the growing produce thereof.
(2) In this section, the expression “the Acts” means the Courts of Justice Acts, 1924 to 1946, and this Act.
Gratuities in respect of certain deceased Justices of the District Court.
20.—(1) Where—
(a) a Justice (including an Assistant Justice) of the District Court, who held office at the date of the passing of the Act of 1936, did not exercise the election provided by subsection (3) of section 48 of the Act of 1936, and
(b) such Justice died before the passing of this Act while holding office,
the Minister for Finance may pay to the legal personal representatives of such Justice a gratuity equal to the amount of his annual salary at the date of his death.
(2) Every gratuity payable under this section shall be charged on and payable out of the Central Fund or the growing produce thereof.
SCHEDULE.
Enactments Repealed.
Part I.
Enactments repealed as on and from the date of the passing of this Act.
Number and Year | Short title | Extent of Repeal |
(1) | (2) | (3) |
No. 10 of 1924. | In section 37, all words from the words “the Minister” to the end of the section; section 40. | |
No. 1 of 1931. | The whole Act. | |
No. 48 of 1936. | Section 22; subsection 7 of section 48. | |
No. 21 of 1946. | Subsection (2) of section 19. |
Part II.
Enactments repealed as on and from the commencement of Part III of this Act.
Number and Year | Short title | Extent of Repeal |
(1) | (2) | (3) |
No. 15 of 1928. | ||
No. 48 of 1936. | Subsection (2) of section 14; section 16; subsection (3) of section 69. |