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Cuir Déscrolláil ar siúl chun an dá leagan a scrolláil le chéile.
Uimhir 21 de 1946.
AN tACHT CÚIRTEANNA BREITHIÚNAIS (AN CHÚIRT DÚICHE), 1946.
[An tiontó oifigiúil.]
ACHTAÍTEAR AG AN OIREACHTAS MAR LEANAS:—
CUID I.
Reamhraiteach agus Ginearalta.
Gearr-theideal agus comhluadh.
1.—(1) Féadfar an tAcht Cúirteanna Breithiúnais (An Chúirt Dúiche), 1946, a ghairm den Acht seo.
(2) Féadfar na hAchta Cúirteanna Breithiúnais, 1924 go 1946, a ghairm de na hAchta Cúirteanna Breithiúnais, 1924 go 1936, agus den Acht seo le chéile.
Mínithe.
2.—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 “an lá ceaptha (Cuid II)” an lá a ceapfar ina lá ceaptha chun críocha Coda II den Acht seo le hordú ón Aire faoi alt 3 den Acht seo;
ciallaíonn an focal “Roinn” roinn de na Breithiúin do Chathair Bhaile Atha Cliath a bunaítear le halt 5 den Acht seo;
ciallaíonn an abairt “Breitheamh do Chathair Bhaile Atha Cliath” Breitheamh arna bhuan-shannadh do Dhúthaigh Chathrach Bhaile Atha Cliath;
ciallaíonn an focal “Breitheamh” Breitheamh den Chúirt Dúiche, ach ní fholaíonn sé Breitheamh sealadach;
ciallaíonn an abairt “an tAire” an tAire Dlí agus Cirt;
ciallaíonn an abairt “an dáta feidhme” dáta an Achta seo a rith;
ciallaíonn an abairt “an Príomh-Acht” an tAcht Cúirteanna Breithiúnais, 1924 (Uimh. 10 de 1924);
ciallaíonn an abairt “Breitheamh sealadach” duine arna cheapadh faoi alt 51 d'Acht 1936 chun gníomhú mar Bhreitheamh.
An lá ceaptha chun críocha Coda II.
3.—Féadfaidh an tAire le hordú lá a cheapadh ina lá ceaptha chun críocha Coda II den Acht seo.
Athghairm.
4.—(1) Déantar leis seo na hachtacháin atá leagtha amach sa dara colún de Chuid I den Sceideal a ghabhas leis an Acht seo a athghairm, amhail ar an dáta feidhme agus uaidh sin amach, a mhéid a sonraítear sa tríú colún de Chuid I den Sceideal sin.
(2) Déantar leis seo na hachtacháin atá leagtha amach sa dara colún de Chuid II den Sceideal a ghabhas leis an Acht seo a athghairm, amhail ar an lá ceaptha (Cuid II) agus uaidh sin amach, a mhéid a sonraítear sa tríú colún de Chuid II den Sceideal sin.
CUID II.
Forala maidir leis na Breithiuin do Chathair Bhaile Atha Cliath.
Na ranna de na Breithiúin do Chathair Bhaile Atha Cliath.
5.—(1) D'fhonn go mba chaothúla a déanfaí gnó na Cúirte Dúiche i nDúthaigh Chathrach Bhaile Átha Cliath, beidh na Breithiúin do Chathair Bhaile Átha Cliath, ar an lá ceaptha (Cuid II), arna roinnt, de bhuaidh an fho-ailt seo, ina dtrí Ranna a ngairmfear de gach Roinn faoi leith acu an ainm a cheapfas an tAire dhi.
(2) Is é a bheas i ngach Roinn—
(a) Breitheamh, dá ngairmfear Ard-Bhreitheamh na Roinne sin,
(b) pé uimhir (más ann) de Bhreithiúin eile, dá ngairmfear Gnáth-Bhreithiúin na Roinne sin, a chinnfeas an tAire ó am go ham.
Forála maidir le hArd-Bhreithiúin.
6.—(1) Beidh feidhm ag na forála seo a leanas maidir le hArd-Bhreitheamh Roinne—
(a) ainmneoidh an tAire é as na Breithiúin do Chathair Bhaile Atha Cliath,
(b) ní haistreofar go dtí Roinn eile é mura dtoilí sé féin chuige,
(c) socróidh sé i dtaobh gnó na Roinne sin a roinnt idir Bhreithiúin ar leithligh na Roinne sin.
(2) Aon uair a bheas folúntas in oifig Ard-Bhreithimh Roinne (dá ngairmtear an Roinn sin sa bhfo-alt seo) nó a thárlós, ar chúis ar bith, ná beidh ar chumas Ard-Bhreithimh Roinne (dá ngairmtear an Roinn sin freisin sa bhfo-alt seo) gníomhú, féadfaidh an tAire—
(a) Ard-Bhreitheamh Roinne eile a ainmniú, le toiliú an Bhreithimh sin, chun gníomhú go sealadach mar Ard-Bhreitheamh don Roinn sin, i dteannta a Roinne féin nó
(b) duine de na Breithiúin do Chathair Bhaile Atha Cliath (is Gnáth-Bhreitheamh Roinne) a ainmniú chun gníomhú go sealadach mar Ard-Bhreitheamh don Roinn sin, ach gan luach saothair sa bhreis a fháil,
agus Breitheamh a hainmneofar amhlaidh, gníomhóidh sé dá réir sin.
(3) Ainmneoidh an tAire an Breitheamh is sinsearaí, díreach roimh an lá ceaptha (Cuid II), de na Breithiúin do Chathair Bhaile Atha Cliath, chun bheith ina Ard-Bhreitheamh do cheann de na Ranna.
Forála maidir le Gnáth-Bhreithiúin Roinne.
7.—Beidh feidhm ag na forála seo a leanas maidir le Gnáth-Bhreitheamh Roinne—
(a) ainmneoidh an tAire é as na Breithiúin do Chathair Bhaile Atha Cliath,
(b) féadfaidh an tAire é a aistriú ó am go ham ón Roinn sin aige go dtí Roinn eile.
Tuarastail na mBreithiún do Chathair Bhaile Atha Cliath.
8.—(1) Gheobhaidh Ard-Bhreitheamh Roinne tuarastal míle agus dhá chéad punt sa bhliain.
(2) Gheobhaidh gach Breitheamh do Chathair Bhaile Atha Cliath (seachas Ard-Bhreitheamh Roinne) tuarastal míle agus céad punt sa bhliain.
(3) Is ar an bPríomh-Chiste nó ar a thoradh fáis a bheas muirear agus íoc na dtuarastal a luaitear i bhfo-ailt (1) agus (2) den alt seo.
(4) Tiocfaidh fo-ailt (1), (2) agus (3) den alt seo i ngníomh ar an lá ceaptha (Cuid II).
Breithiúin bhreise Roinne a ainmniú.
9.—(1) Féadfaidh an tAire ó am go ham Breitheamh, ná beidh buan-shannaithe do dhúthaigh áirithe agus a bheas de thuras na huaire sannaithe go sealadach do Dhúthaigh Chathrach Bhaile Atha Cliath, a ainmniú chun gníomhú mar Bhreitheamh breise Roinne.
(2) Féadfaidh an tAire ó am go ham Breitheamh sealadach, a bheas de thuras na huaire sannaithe go sealadach do Dhúthaigh Chathrach Bhaile Atha Cliath, a ainmniú chun gníomhú mar Bhreitheamh breise Roinne.
(3) Breitheamh nó Breitheamh sealadach a hainmneofar faoin alt seo chun gníomhú mar Bhreitheamh breise Roinne, gníomhóidh sé amhlaidh go dtí go bhforceannfaidh an tAire a ainmniú.
Gnó a roinnt idir na Ranna.
10.—An gnó de chuid na Cúirte Dúiche a bheas le déanamh i nDúthaigh Chathrach Bhaile Atha Cliath, roinnfear é idir na Ranna ar leithligh i pé slí a ordós an tAire ó am go ham.
Na háiteanna, etc., ina mbeidh gnó Roinne le déanamh.
11.—(1) Féadfaidh an tAire ó am go ham, maidir le gach Roinn,—
(a) na háiteanna i nDúthaigh Chathrach Bhaile Atha Cliath a cheapadh ina mbeidh gnó na Roinne sin le déanamh,
(b) an saghas nó na saghsanna gnótha de chuid na Roinne sin a chinneadh a bheas le déanamh i ngach áit ar leithligh de na háiteanna a ceapfar amhlaidh.
(c) na laetha agus na huaireanta a chinneadh a déanfar gach saghas gnótha ar leithligh den tsórt sin sna háiteanna ar leithligh a ceapfar amhlaidh.
(2) Féadfaidh an tAire a údarú d'Ard-Bhreitheamh Roinne na cumhachta is infheidhmithe ag an Aire faoi mhíreanna (b) agus (c) d'fho-alt (1) den alt seo a fheidhmiú, maidir leis an Roinn sin, agus féadfaidh aon údarás den tsórt sin a fhorceannadh.
Forála i dtaobh gnótha ar feitheamh.
12.—(1) Gach gnó de chuid na Cúirte Dúiche i nDúthaigh Chathrach Bhaile Atha Cliath a bheas tosnaithe roimh an lá ceaptha (Cuid II) agus ná beidh críochnaithe roimh an lá ceaptha (Cuid II) leanfar de agus críochnófar é amhail is ná beadh an tAcht seo arna rith.
(2) Chun críocha an ailt seo, is tuigthe gnó de chuid na Cúirte Dúiche a bheith arna thosnú lá eisithe na toghairme, an bharántais, na próise nó na doiciméide tionscnaimh eile ina thaobh.
Comhaltaí exofficio de Choiste Rialacha na Cúirte Dúiche.
13.—Amhail ar an lá ceaptha (Cuid II) agus uaidh sin amach, is iad a bheas ina gcomhaltaí ex-officio de Choiste Rialacha na Cúirte Dúiche, a bunaíodh le halt 71 Acht 1936, ná—
(a) pé duine (is Ard-Bhreitheamh Roinne) a ainmneos an tAire chuige sin de na Breithiúin, agus is é an duine sin a bheas ina chathaoirleach ar an gCoiste sin;
(b) pé duine a ainmneos an tAire chuige sin de Chléirigh Chúirte Dúiche Dhúthaigh Chathrach Bhaile Atha Cliath, agus is é an duine sin a bheas ina rúnaí don Choiste sin.
CUID III.
Forala Ilghneitheacha maidir leis an gCuirt Duiche.
Cáilíocht i gcóir ceapacháin mar Bhreitheamh.
14.—Abhcóide nó atúrnae a chleachtaigh a ghairm iarbhír ar feadh sé bliana ar a laghad, ní bheidh sé neamh-incheaptha mar Bhreitheamh de bhíthin amháin ná fuil sé de thuras na huaire ag cleachtadh a ghairme, má tá sé de thuras na huaire i seilbh oifige lenar ghabh ceangal reachta (tráth a cheaptha chuici) nár bhfoláir gach duine a ceapfaí chuici a bheith, an tráth sin nó roimhe sin,—
(a) ina atúrnae cleachtach, nó
(b) ina abhcóide cleachtach nó ina atúrnae cleachtach.
An aois scoir do Breithiúin.
15.—(1) Cúig bliana seascad is aois scoir do Bhreitheamh.
(2) D'ainneoin éinní atá i bhfo-alt (1) den alt seo, is seachtó bliain is aois scoir do dhuine a bheas, díreach roimh an dáta feidhme, ina Bhreitheamh do Chathair Bhaile Atha Cliath nó ina Bhreitheamh a bheas buan-shannaithe don dúthaigh is ionann agus, nó ina bhfuil, contae-bhuirg Chorcaighe.
An líon uasta Breithiún.
16.—Ní raghaidh líon na mBreithiún thar ceathracha tráth ar bith.
Breithiúin a shannadh do dhúthaí.
17.—(1) (a) I gcás duine a cheapadh ina Bhreitheamh, ansin, faoi réir míre (b) den fho-alt seo, féadfaidh an Rialtas, más cuibhe leo, ar é a cheapadh amhlaidh, é a bhuan-shannadh do dhúthaigh áirithe.
(b) I gcás ina mbeidh, an tráth a ceapfar duine ina Bhreitheamh, ceathrar Breithiún ná fuil buanshannaithe do dhúthaí áirithe, déanfaidh an Rialtas an duine sin a bhuan-shannadh do dhúthaigh áirithe.
(c) I gcás Breitheamh a bheith buan-shannaithe, díreach roimh an dáta feidhme, do dhúthaigh áirithe, leanfaidh sé, chun críocha an ailt seo agus faoi réir fo-alt (3) agus (4) den alt seo, de bheith buanshannaithe don dúthaigh sin.
(2) I gcás ná déanfar Breitheamh a bhuan-shannadh do dhúthaigh áirithe ar é a cheapadh, féadfaidh an Rialtas é a bhuan-shannadh tráth ar bith do dhúthaigh áirithe.
(3) Breitheamh a bheas buan-shannaithe do dhúthaigh áirithe, féadfaidh an tAire, ach go dtoileoidh an Breitheamh chuige, é a aistriú go dtí dúthaigh eile, agus ar é a aistriú amhlaidh tiocfaidh an Breitheamh sin chun bheith agus beidh sé buan-shannaithe don dúthaigh eile sin in ionad bheith buan-shannaithe don dúthaigh sin a céadluaitear.
(4) (a) I gcás Breitheamh a bheith buan-shannaithe do dhúthaigh áirithe, féadfaidh an Rialtas, ar é dá iarraidh sin, an buan-shannadh sin a fhorceannadh más cuibhe leo.
(b) I gcás buan-shannadh Breithimh do dhúthaigh áirithe a fhorceannadh faoi mhír (a) den fho-alt seo, féadfaidh an Rialtas tráth ar bith ina dhiaidh sin é a bhuanshannadh do dhúthaigh áirithe.
(5) Breitheamh ná beidh de thuras na huaire buan-shannaithe do dhúthaigh áirithe, féadfaidh an tAire é a shannadh ó am go ham do dhúthaigh ar bith agus, faid a bheas sé sannaithe do dhúthaigh amhlaidh, beidh ag gach Breitheamh den tsórt sin, maidir leis an dúthaigh sin agus i gcomhréim leis an mBreitheamh a bheas buan-shannaithe don dúthaigh sin, gach príbhléid, cumhacht agus dualgas a bheas de thuras na huaire bronnta nó forchurtha le dlí ar an mBreitheamh a bheas buan-shannaithe don dúthaigh sin.
(6) Ní bhainfidh éinní san alt seo le Breithiúin shealadacha.
Gan tuilleadh Breithiún cúnta a cheapadh.
18.—Ní déanfar, ar an dáta feidhme ná dá éis, duine ar bith a cheapadh faoi alt 13 d'Acht 1928 ina Bhreitheamh cúnta.
Cearta pinsin Breithiún.
19.—(1) Más rud é—
(a) go scarfaidh Breitheamh, ar dheich mbliana seirbhíse nó níos mó a bheith slán aige, lena oifig le toiliú an Rialtais, agus
(b) ná beidh teideal ag an mBreitheamh sin, faoi na hAchta Cúirteanna Breithiúnais, 1924 go 1936, nó dá mbuaidh, chun pinsin i leith a sheirbhíse mar Bhreitheamh,
beidh teideal aige ar feadh a shaoil chun pinsin arna ríomh do réir na séú coda den tuarastal a bheas aige an tráth a searfas sé lena oifig amhlaidh maille leis an gceathrachadú cuid den tuarastal sin aige in aghaidh gach bliana iomláine seirbhíse de bhreis ar dheich mbliana den tsórt sin.
(2) Aon phinsean is iníoctha faoi fho-alt (1) den alt seo nó aon dámhachtain faoi na hAchta Aoisliúntas, 1834 go 1942, a deonadh de bhuaidh ailt 75 den Phríomh-Acht, arna bhuanú le fo-alt (3) d'alt 48 d'Acht 1936, is ar an bPríomh-Chiste nó ar a thoradh fáis a bheas a mhuirear agus a íoc.
(3) Aon uair a cuirfear Breitheamh as oifig mar gheall ar éagumas, is tuigthe chun críocha pinsin é do scarúint lena oifig de dheascaibh buan-easláinte.
Sealbhaíocht oifige Breithiún.
20.—Beidh Breithiúin i seilbh oifige ar aon-tsealbhaíocht le Breithiúin na Cúirte Uachtaraí agus na hArd-Chúirte.
Fiosrú breithiúnach i dtaobh sláinte nó iompair Breithiún.
21.—Aon uair a iarrfas an tAire ar an bPríomh-Bhreitheamh Breitheamh a cheapadh—
(a) chun iniúchadh a dhéanamh i dtaobh staid sláinte Breithimh ó thaobh coirp nó meabhrach, nó
(b) chun fiosrú a dhéanamh i dtaobh iompair Bhreithimh (pé acu i gcomhlíonadh a oifige nó ar shlí eile é), i gcoitinne nó ar ócáid áirithe,
agus sin, i gceachtar cás, fara tagairt speisialta do pé nithe a luafar san iarratas, beidh éifeacht ag na forála seo a leanas, sé sin le rá—
(i) ceapfaidh an Príomh-Bhreitheamh Breitheamh den Chúirt Uachtarach nó, le toiliú Uachtaráin na hArd-Chúirte, Breitheamh den Ard-Chúirt chun an t-iniúchadh nó an fiosrú a dhéanamh;
(ii) féadfaidh an Breitheamh a ceapfar amhlaidh an t-iniúchadh nó an fiosrú a dhéanamh i pé slí is cuibhe leis, pé acu trí fhínnéithe a scrúdú nó ar shlí eile é, agus go sonrach féadfaidh aon imeachta a sheoladh in camera, agus chuige sin beidh aige gach cumhacht, ceart agus príbhléid a dílsítear i mBreitheamh den Ard-Chúirt i gcás aicsin;
(iii) ar an iniúchadh nó an fiosrú a bheith críochnaithe tuairisceoidh an Breitheamh sin a thoradh don Aire.
Socruithe sealadacha chun gnó a dhéanamh mar gheall ar bhás, etc., Breithimh a bheas buanshannaithe dodhúthaigh.
22.—Aon uair a thárlós Breitheamh (seachas Ard-Bhreitheamh Roinne) a bheas buan-shannaithe do dhúthaigh áirithe d'fháil bháis, do scarúint lena oifig nó do bheith as láthair ón dúthaigh sin, féadfaidh an tAire aon Bhreitheamh eile (ach, i gcás Breithimh a bheas buan-shannaithe do dhúthaigh, é do thoiliú chuige sin) nó aon Bhreitheamh sealadach a shannadh go sealadach don dúthaigh sin, agus aon Bhreitheamh nó aon Bhreitheamh sealadach a sannfar go sealadach amhlaidh, beidh cumhacht aige dlínse a fheidhmiú sa dúthaigh sin a céadluaitear go dtí go bhforceannfaidh an tAire a shannadh sealadach, agus d'ainneoin, i gcás gur Breitheamh é a bheas buan-shannaithe do dhúthaigh eile, é a bheith buanshannaithe amhlaidh.
Forfheidhmiú breithe ar achomharc ón gCúirt Dúiche.
23.—Nuair a bheas an Chúirt Chuarda tar éis achomharc ón gCúirt Dúiche maidir le héinní a chinneadh (pé acu roimh an Acht seo a rith nó dá éis sin é), ansin, mura mbeidh an Chúirt Chuarda tar éis an ionstraim a eisiúint is gá chun a breith a fhorfheidhmiú, eiseoidh an Chúirt Dúiche an ionstraim sin.
AN SCEIDEAL.
Achtachain a hAthghairmtear.
Cuid I.
Achtacháin a hathghairmtear amhail ó dháta an Achta seo a rith.
Uimh. agus Bliain | Gearr-theideal | Méid na hAthghairme |
An chuing a ghabhas le halt 68; alt 72. | ||
Ailt 46 agus 49. |
Cuid II.
Achtacháin a hAthghairmtear amhail ar an lá ceaptha Cuid II) agus uaidh sin amach.
Uimh. agus Bliain | Gearr-theideal | Méid na hAthghairme |
Alt 74, a mhéid a bhaineas sé leis na Breithiúin do Chathair Bhaile Atha Cliath; In alt 80 na focail “Bhaile Atha Cliath.” | ||
Fo-alt (3) d'alt 71. | ||
Alt 5. |
Number 21 of 1946.
COURTS OF JUSTICE (DISTRICT COURT) ACT, 1946.
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
Preliminary and General.
Section | |
Provisions in Relation to the Dublin Metropolitan Justices.
Places, etc., at which business of Divisions is to be transacted. | |
Miscellaneous Provisions in Relation to the District Court.
Acts Referred to | |
No. 15 of 1928 | |
No. 48 of 1936 | |
No. 10 of 1924 | |
Number 21 of 1946.
COURTS OF JUSTICE (DISTRICT COURT) ACT, 1946.
PART I.
Preliminary and General.
Short title and collective citation.
1.—(1) This Act may be cited as the Courts of Justice (District Court) Act, 1946.
(2) The Courts of Justice Acts, 1924 to 1936, and this Act may be cited together as the Courts of Justice Acts, 1924 to 1946.
Definitions.
2.—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 appointed (Part II) day” means the day appointed to be the appointed day for the purposes of Part II of this Act by order of the Minister under section 3 of this Act;
the word “Division” means a division of the Dublin Metropolitan Justices established by section 5 of this Act;
the expression “Dublin Metropolitan Justice” means a Justice permanently assigned to the Dublin Metropolitan District;
the expression “Justice” means a Justice of the District Court, but does not include a temporary Justice;
the expression “the Minister” means the Minister for Justice;
the expression “the operative date” means the date of the passing of this Act;
the expression “the Principal Act” means the Courts of Justice Act, 1924 (No. 10 of 1924);
the expression “temporary Justice” means a person appointed under section 51 of the Act of 1936 to act as a Justice.
Appointed day for purposes of Part II.
3.—The Minister may by order appoint a day to be the appointed day for the purposes of Part II of this Act.
Repeals.
4.—(1) The enactments set out in the second column of Part I of the Schedule to this Act are hereby repealed, as on and from the operative date, to the extent specified in the third column of Part I of the said Schedule.
(2) The enactments set out in the second column of Part II of the Schedule to this Act are hereby repealed, as on and from the appointed (Part II) day, to the extent specified in the third column of Part II of the said Schedule.
PART II.
Provisions in Relation to the Dublin Metropolitan Justices.
Divisions of the Dublin Metropolitan Justices.
5.—(1) For the more convenient dispatch of the business of the District Court in the Dublin Metropolitan District, the Dublin Metropolitan Justices shall, on the appointed (Part II) day, stand, by virtue of this subsection, grouped into three Divisions, each of which shall be known by the name assigned to it by the Minister.
(2) Each Division shall consist of—
(a) a Justice, to be known as the Principal Justice of that Division,
(b) such number (if any) of other Justices, to be known as ordinary Justices of that Division, as may from time to time be fixed by the Minister.
Provisions in relation to Principal Justices.
6.—(1) The following provisions shall apply in relation to the Principal Justice of a Division—
(a) he shall be nominated by the Minister from amongst the Dublin Metropolitan Justices,
(b) he shall not be transferred to another Division except with his own consent,
(c) he shall arrange for the distribution of the business of the said Division amongst the several Justices of the said Division.
(2) Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of the Principal Justice of a Division (in this subsection referred to as the said Division) or the Principal Justice of a Division (in this subsection also referred to as the said Division) is for any reason unable to act, the Minister may—
(a) nominate the Principal Justice of another Division, with his consent, to act temporarily as Principal Justice of the said Division, in addition to his own Division, or
(b) nominate one of the Dublin Metropolitan Justices (being an ordinary Justice of a Division) to act temporarily as Principal Justice of the said Division, but without additional remuneration,
and a Justice so nominated shall act accordingly.
(3) The Minister shall nominate the Justice, who is, immediately before the appointed (Part II) day, the senior of the Dublin Metropolitan Justices, to be the Principal Justice of one of the Divisions.
Provisions in relation to ordinary Justices of Divisions.
7.—The following provisions shall apply in relation to an ordinary Justice of a Division—
(a) he shall be nominated by the Minister from amongst the Dublin Metropolitan Justices,
(b) he may from time to time be transferred from his said Division by the Minister to another Division.
Salaries of Dublin Metropolitan Justices.
8.—(1) The Principal Justice of a Division shall receive a salary of one thousand two hundred pounds per annum.
(2) Every Dublin Metropolitan Justice (other than the Principal Justice of a Division) shall receive a salary of one thousand one hundred pounds per annum.
(3) The salaries mentioned in subsections (1) and (2) of this section shall be charged on and payable out of the Central Fund or the growing produce thereof.
(4) Subsections (1), (2) and (3) of this section shall come into operation on the appointed (Part II) day.
Nomination of additional Justices of Divisions.
9.—(1) The Minister may from time to time nominate a Justice, who is not permanently assigned to a particular district and who is for the time being temporarily assigned to the Dublin Metropolitan District, to act as an additional Justice of a Division.
(2) The Minister may from time to time nominate a temporary Justice, who is for the time being temporarily assigned to the Dublin Metropolitan District, to act as an additional Justice of a Division.
(3) A Justice or a temporary Justice who is nominated under this section to act as an additional Justice of a Division shall so act until the Minister terminates his nomination.
Distribution of business amongst Divisions.
10.—The business of the District Court to be transacted in the Dublin Metropolitan District shall be distributed amongst the several Divisions in such manner as the Minister may from time to time direct.
Places, etc., at which business of Divisions is to be transacted.
11.—(1) The Minister may, in respect of each Division, from time to time,—
(a) appoint the places in the Dublin Metropolitan District for the transaction of the business of such Division,
(b) determine the class or classes of the business of such Division to be transacted in each of the several places so appointed,
(c) determine the days and hours at which the several classes of such business shall be respectively transacted in the several places so appointed.
(2) The Minister may authorise the Principal Justice of a Division to exercise, in respect of such Division, the powers exercisable by the Minister under paragraphs (b) and (c) of subsection (1) of this section, and may determine any such authority.
Provisions for pending business.
12.—(1) All business of the District Court in the Dublin Metropolitan District, which is initiated before the appointed (Part II) day and is not completed before the appointed (Part II) day, shall be continued and completed as if this Act had not been passed.
(2) For the purposes of this section, business of the District Court shall be regarded as being initiated on the day on which the summons, warrant, process or other originating document relating to it is issued.
Ex-officio members of the District Court Rules Committee.
13.—The ex-officio members of the District Court Rules Committee, established by section 71 of the Act of 1936, shall, as on and from the appointed (Part II) day, be—
(a) such one (being the Principal Justice of a Division) of the Justices as the Minister shall nominate in that behalf, who shall be the chairman of the said Committee,
(b) such one of the District Court clerks of the Dublin Metropolitan District as the Minister shall nominate in that behalf, who shall be the secretary of the said Committee.
PART III.
Miscellaneous Provisions in Relation to the District Court.
Qualification for appointment as Justice.
14.—A barrister or solicitor, who actually practised his profession for not less than six years, shall not be ineligible for appointment as a Justice by reason only of the fact that he is for the time being not practising his profession, if he holds for the time being an office in respect of which it was (at the time of his appointment thereto) required by statute that every person appointed thereto should be or should have been—
(a) a practising solicitor, or
(b) a practising barrister or a practising solicitor.
Age of retirement of Justices.
15.—(1) The age of retirement of a Justice shall be sixty-five years.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in subsection (1) of this section, the age of retirement of a person, who is, immediately before the operative date, a Dublin Metropolitan Justice or a Justice permanently assigned to the district comprising or including the county borough of Cork, shall be seventy years.
Maximum number of Justices.
16.—The number of Justices at any time shall not exceed forty.
Assignment of Justices to districts.
17.—(1) (a) Where a person is appointed a Justice, then, subject to paragraph (b) of this subsection, the Government, if they think fit, may, upon such appointment, assign him permanently to a particular district.
(b) Where, at the time of the appointment of a person to be a Justice, there are four Justices not permanently assigned to particular districts, the Government shall assign such person permanently to a particular district.
(c) Where a Justice is immediately before the operative date permanently assigned to a particular district he shall for the purposes of this section continue, subject to subsections (3) and (4) of this section, to be permanently assigned to that district.
(2) Where a Justice is not upon appointment permanently assigned to a particular district, the Government may at any time assign him permanently to a particular district.
(3) A Justice who is permanently assigned to a particular district may, but only if he so consents, be transferred by the Minister to another district and shall upon such transfer become and be permanently assigned to such other district in lieu of being permanently assigned to such first-mentioned district.
(4) (a) Where a Justice is permanently assigned to a particular district, the Government, upon his request, may, if they think fit, terminate such permanent assignment.
(b) Where the permanent appointment of a Justice to a particular district is terminated under paragraph (a) of this subsection, the Government may at any time thereafter assign him permanently to a particular district.
(5) A Justice who is not for the time being permanently assigned to a particular district may be assigned by the Minister from time to time to any district, and every such Justice shall, while so assigned to a district, have in relation to such district and concurrently with the Justice permanently assigned to such district all the privileges, powers and duties for the time being conferred or imposed by law on the Justice permanently assigned to such district.
(6) Nothing in this section shall apply to temporary Justices.
No further appointments of assistant Justices.
18.—No person shall, on or after the operative date, be appointed under section 13 of the Act of 1928, as an assistant Justice.
Pension rights of Justices.
19.—(1) Where—
(a) a Justice, after having completed ten years' service or more, vacates his office with the consent of the Government, and
(b) such Justice is not entitled, under or by virtue of the Courts of Justice Acts, 1924 to 1936, to a pension in respect of his service as a Justice,
he shall be entitled for his life to a pension calculated at the rate of one-sixth of his salary at the time he so vacates his office with the addition of one-fortieth of his said salary for every completed year of service in excess of ten such years.
(2) Any pension payable under subsection (1) of this section or any award under the Superannuation Acts, 1834 to 1942, granted by virtue of section 75 of the Principal Act, as continued by subsection (3) of section 48 of the Act of 1936, shall be charged on and payable out of the Central Fund or the growing produce thereof.
(3) Whenever a Justice is removed from office on account of incapacity, he shall be deemed for the purposes of pension to have vacated his office owing to permanent infirmity.
Tenure of office of Justices.
20.—Justices shall hold office by the same tenure as the Judges of the Supreme Court and the High Court.
Judicial inquiry into health or conduct of Justices.
21.—Whenever the Minister requests the Chief Justice to appoint a Judge to—
(a) investigate the condition of health, either physical or mental, of a Justice, or
(b) to inquire into the conduct (whether in the execution of his office or otherwise) of a Justice, either generally or on a particular occasion,
and, in either case, with particular reference to such matters as may be mentioned in the request, the following provisions shall have effect, that is to say—
(i) the Chief Justice shall appoint either a Judge of the Supreme Court or, with the consent of the President of the High Court, a Judge of the High Court to conduct the investigation or inquiry;
(ii) the Judge so appointed may conduct the investigation or inquiry in such manner as he thinks proper, whether by examination of witnesses or otherwise, and in particular may conduct any proceedings in camera, and for this purpose shall have all such powers, rights and privileges as are vested in a Judge of the High Court on the occasion of an action;
(iii) upon conclusion of the investigation or inquiry, the said Judge shall report the result thereof to the Minister.
Temporary arrangements for dispatch of business owing to death, etc., of Justice permanently assigned to a district.
22.—Whenever a Justice (other than the Principal Justice of a Division), who is permanently assigned to a particular district, dies, vacates his office or is absent from such district, the Minister may temporarily assign to such district any other Justice (subject, in the case of a Justice permanently assigned to a district, to his consent) or any temporary Justice, and any Justice or temporary Justice so temporarily assigned shall be competent to exercise jurisdiction in such first-named district until his temporary assignment is terminated by the Minister, and notwithstanding, in case he is a Justice permanently assigned to another district, such permanent assignment.
Enforcement of decision on appeal from District Court.
23.—Where an appeal from the District Court in any matter is determined (whether before or after the passing of this Act) by the Circuit Court, then, unless the Circuit Court has issued the instrument necessary to enforce its decision, the District Court shall issue the said instrument.
SCHEDULE.
Enactments Repealed.
Part I.
Enactments Repealed as from the date of the passing of this Act.
Number and Year | Short Title | Extent of Repeal |
No. 10 of 1924 | The proviso to Section 68 section 72. | |
No. 48 of 1936 | Sections 46 and 49. |
Part II.
Enactments Repealed as on and from the appointed (Part II) day.
Number and Year | Short Title | Extent of Repeal |
No. 10 of 1924 | Section 74, in so far as it relates to Dublin Metropolitan Justices; In section 80 the word “Dublin.” | |
No. 48 of 1936 | Subsection (3) of section 71. | |
No. 21 of 1937 |