James Lawless spoke about the issue on Friday's Kildare Today.
The Government needs to address a major problem facing the district courts following a High Court ruling on Tuesday, a Kildare North TD has said.
Chair of the Oireachtas Justice Committee, James Lawless, who is a barrister as well as a TD, made the comment after Ms Justice Marguerite Bolger ruled that the current ‘court presenter’ system in district courts, whereby a garda sergeant prosecutes cases on behalf of individual garda, is contrary to the law.
Mr Lawless told Kfm that the law stipulates that the garda who initiated the prosecution must also conduct the prosecution and not a nominated sergeant who would prosecute the cases of all members.
However, a final order on the matter won’t be made until the specific case is before Ms Justice Marguerite Bolger again on June 16.
The Fianna Fáil TD for Kildare North, said he was aware that court houses around the country “were in turmoil” after the ruling.
He said a number of gardaí and people in the courts system have been in direct contact with him about it.
“They don’t know what to do.
"Do they pull all the gardaí off the street and into the courtroom so they can present the cases one by one?”
He said that not only is that quite cumbersome but also time consuming as cases can be adjourned.
Kildare North TD James Lawless spoke with Ciara Noble on Friday morning's Kildare Today:
"It's A Crisis": Criminal Legal Aid Dispute Rumbles On As Local Solicitors Meet Kildare TDs
Moderate Weather Advisory Issued For Kildare
Calls For Newbridge Bridge To Be Improved As Council Await Iarnród Éireann Response
Athy's Adrian Kane Appointed SIPTU Deputy General Secretary
Brendan Wyse Steps Down As Clane-Maynooth Councillor
Celbridge-Leixlip MD Appoint New Cathaoirleach And Leas-Chathaoirleach
€1.17M Spent On Kildare Vacant Property Grants In Q2
Work On Newbridge Play Area To Begin In Mid October
