THE chief executive of the proposed Courts Service will have at least the status of the secretary of a Government Department, the working group on a courts commission proposed yesterday.
The group also deals with the relationship between the chief executive and the Courts Service hoard, the Chief Justice, the President of the Benches of the Courts and the Minister for Justice.
The Minister, Mrs Owen, said the post of chief executive was "pivotal" to the successful development of the Courts Service. The chief executive would be responsible for the management of 900 civil servants who now reported to the Department of Justice.
The working group outlines the qualifications needed by the chief executive. He/she will have a degree qualification in management and/or a qualification in law. His/her personality should be "open, friendly... while working for high performance goals".