Topics / Courts Service

A subject heading for parliamentary questions

Courts Service

125 questions from 49 TDs, between 22 January 2025 and 20 October 2026.

125
questions
123 written, 2 oral
49
TDs have asked
11
parties and groups
Independents counted together
3
departments asked

Questions per month

The record holds no questions for August, when the Dáil does not sit.

Jan 2025Oct 2026
Show as a table
MonthQuestions
January 20251
February 20252
March 20251
April 20259
May 20253
June 20257
July 202510
August 20250
September 20254
October 20256
November 202516
December 20255
January 202614
February 20265
March 20265
April 20263
May 202615
June 20261
July 202612
August 20260
September 20262
October 20264

Who asks, by party

The party each TD belonged to on the day, in alphabetical order. Parties differ a lot in size, and members of the Government answer questions rather than ask them, so this shows who raised it, not how much a party cares about it.

  • 100% RDR1 from 1 TD · 1 seat today
  • Aontú3 from 2 TDs · 2 seats today
  • Fianna Fáil34 from 12 TDs · 48 seats today
  • Fine Gael20 from 7 TDs · 38 seats today
  • Green Party3 from 1 TD · 1 seat today
  • Independent11 from 5 TDs · 15 seats today
  • Independent Ireland3 from 1 TD · 4 seats today
  • Labour Party20 from 6 TDs · 11 seats today
  • People Before Profit-Solidarity2 from 1 TD · 3 seats today
  • Sinn Féin19 from 8 TDs · 39 seats today

The TDs who asked most

Members of the Government answer questions rather than ask them. Each question counts once.

  1. 15
  2. 13
  3. 12
  4. 10
  5. 6
  6. 5
  7. 3
  8. 3

Asked of

Debated under the same heading

Debates whose official heading is exactly these words.

The questions

Naoise Ó Cearúil Written 27 Jan 2026 · to Justice
198. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration for an update on progress in the Courts Service Modernisation Programme, as referenced in recent justice reform announcements in January 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6091/26]
Pádraig Rice Written 22 Jan 2026 · to Justice
473. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration further to Parliamentary Question No. 267 of 10 December 2026, if he has approved the draft Circuit Court Rules (Donor Assisted Human Reproduction) 2025 and the equivalent District Court Rules, which would allow for the commencement of section 232 of the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Act 2024; if not, the timeline he is working…
Carol Nolan Written 20 Jan 2026 · to Justice
728. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the current compulsory retirement ages which apply to members of the judiciary; and the changes which have been made to these retirement ages from 2000 to date in 2026. [3703/26]
Marie Sherlock Written 13 Jan 2026 · to Justice
1649. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration when construction will commence on the purpose-built Family Law Court complex at Hammond Lane, Dublin 7; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74432/25]
Michael Murphy Written 13 Jan 2026 · to Justice
1711. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the policy rationale underpinning the current level and structure of court fees applicable in the superior courts; and how this rationale reflects the constitutional right of access to the courts, particularly in cases involving alleged breaches of constitutional rights. [1071/26]
Michael Murphy Written 13 Jan 2026 · to Justice
1712. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the basis on which the State and State bodies are exempt from certain court fees under S.I. No. 492/2014; and whether consideration has been given to the impact of these exemptions on equality of arms between the State and private litigants. [1072/26]
Michael Murphy Written 13 Jan 2026 · to Justice
1714. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether consideration has been given to introducing reduced or waived court fees in the Superior Courts for proceedings that raise bona fide constitutional or public-interest issues; and if so, to outline the options examined. [1074/26]
Michael Murphy Written 13 Jan 2026 · to Justice
1715. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether his Department has assessed the potential chilling effect of court fees and adverse costs exposure on individuals seeking to vindicate constitutional rights; and if so, to provide details of any such assessment. [1075/26]
Michael Murphy Written 13 Jan 2026 · to Justice
1716. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether his Department has examined how other common-law jurisdictions address court fees and costs in constitutional or public-interest litigation; and whether any such models are being considered in an Irish context. [1076/26]
Emer Currie Written 13 Jan 2026 · to Justice
1718. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the procedure used by the Courts Service to inform drivers of the requirement to surrender their licence to the Road Safety Authority following a court disqualification; the procedure used to identify a driver to contact, when their unique driver number has not been captured in court. [1142/26]
Roderic O'Gorman Written 13 Jan 2026 · to Justice
1744. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration for an update on the progress and current timeline for the development of the Children's Court building on Hammond Lane; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1766/26]
Pa Daly Written 18 Dec 2025 · to Justice
585. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration his plans in relation to the continued use by some District Courts of charity donations to allow motorists to avoid convictions for penalty point offences, including in cases of those driving at speeds significantly in excess of speed limits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73842/25]
Mattie McGrath Written 16 Dec 2025 · to Justice
668. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number people that have been prosecuted for breach of the in-camera rule in family courts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71327/25]
Ged Nash Written 16 Dec 2025 · to Justice
715. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will consider introducing a scheme to allow the Courts Service to provide reasonable expenses to cover the cost of travel for citizens selected for jury duty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71931/25]
Roderic O'Gorman Written 10 Dec 2025 · to Justice
255. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the budget that has been allocated by his Department to the Planning and Environmental Court for 2025; the projected budget for 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [70450/25]
Peadar Tóibín Written 3 Dec 2025 · to Justice
197. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the length of time the average criminal court case takes in Ireland for each of the past ten years; and the comparative length of time in Britian and in the EU. [68437/25]
Matt Carthy Written 25 Nov 2025 · to Justice
618. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration when the new family courts complex is expected to be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65201/25]
Robert O'Donoghue Written 18 Nov 2025 · to Justice
808. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the oversight mechanisms in place to ensure interpreters engaged by the Courts Service meet minimum professional standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63745/25]
Robert O'Donoghue Written 18 Nov 2025 · to Justice
809. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if disciplinary, audit or quality assurance procedures exist for interpreters who provide services in criminal trials and, if not, the reason; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63748/25]
Robert O'Donoghue Written 18 Nov 2025 · to Justice
810. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if there are plans to introduce State-accredited training and certification for legal interpreters in Ireland, similar to other EU countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63749/25]
Robert O'Donoghue Written 18 Nov 2025 · to Justice
811. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if his Department intends to establish a central register of qualified legal interpreters and translators, as envisaged under Directive 2010/64/EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63750/25]
Robert O'Donoghue Written 18 Nov 2025 · to Justice
812. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if there is any requirement at present for interpreters working in court rooms to pass language competency or legal terminology examinations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63751/25]
Robert O'Donoghue Written 18 Nov 2025 · to Justice
813. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the quality assurance processes that currently exist to assess interpreters’ performance in courtrooms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63752/25]
Robert O'Donoghue Written 18 Nov 2025 · to Justice
816. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the current rates of pay for court interpreters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63763/25]
Robert O'Donoghue Written 18 Nov 2025 · to Justice
817. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he has received submissions from an organisation (details supplied) regarding pay and training for court interpreters; the action he has taken in response; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63764/25]