Judges and the court system

Increasing litigation

Letters to the Editor. Illustration: Paul Scott
The Irish Times - Letters to the Editor.

Sir, – The reported comments of Mr Justice Twomey on the number of judges at different levels of the courts system, and the role of the Oireachtas in setting costs are fair and should be welcomed (“Woman’s 30-year ‘vendetta’ against brother over farm is ‘worst example of weaponisation’ of courts”, News, May 15th).

Over the years I have raised the issue of incrementally increasing the number of judges at High Court, and other court levels, to meet ever increasing litigation.

The Houses of the Oireachtas must address this matter. I suggest the most impartial way to do so is to ask the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) to report on the required number of judges at each court level and how to work to bring this about at a reasonable cost to the state.

The C&AG reports directly to Dáil Éireann but is independent in the discharge of his duties. This would guarantee the matter is examined without compromising the separation of powers of the institutions of the State.– Yours, etc,

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GAY MITCHELL,

Rathmines,

Dublin 6.