Bill

Purpose

Status

Mediation Bill

To promote mediation as a viable, effective and efficient alternative to court proceedings.

Pre-legislative scrutiny took place in 2012

Judicial Council Bill

To promote excellence in the exercise by judges of their judicial functions and to provide effective remedies for complaints about judicial misconduct including lay participation in the investigation of complaints.

Pre-legislative scrutiny expected in November 2016

Civil Liability (Amendment) Bill

To give financial security to those who have been catastrophically injured and who require lifelong care and attention by empowering the courts to make periodic payment orders.

Pre-legislative scrutiny took place in September 2015

Personal Injuries Assessment Board (Amendment) Bill

To introduce a number of amendments to improve the operation and implementation of the Personal Injuries Assessment Board Act 2003.

Heads of bill expected end 2016

Family Court Bill

To establish a Family Court as a separate division within the existing court structures.

Pre-legislative scrutiny expected end 2016

Judicial Appointments Bill

To replace the Judicial Appointments Advisory Board with a new Judicial Appointments Commission.

Pre-legislative scrutiny expected November 2016

Juries Bill

To give effect to Law Reform Commission report on Juries.

Proposals under consideration

Amendment of the Constitution (Unified Patent Court) Bill

To amend Article 29 of the Constitution to recognise the International Agreement on a Unified Patent Court.

Heads approved on 23 July 2014

Amendment of the Constitution (Removal of Blasphemy) Bill

To provide for a referendum on removing the crime of blasphemy from the Constitution.

Preliminary work has commenced

Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill

To enact provisions relating to electronic courts services and a wide range of other measures such as amendment of the Bankruptcy and Personal Insolvency Acts.

Pre-legislative scrutiny expected October 2016

Courts (Fixed Charge Notice Third Payment Option and Summons Printing) Bill

To amend the Courts (No. 3) Act 1986 dealing with the issue of summonses to facilitate commencement of section 44 of the Road Traffic Act 2010 which provides a third option to pay in respect of a fixed charge offence.

Sent for pre-legislative scrutiny in June 2016

Mortgages Special Court Bill / Courts (Mortgage Arrears) Bill

To establish a dedicated new court to sensitively and expeditiously handle mortgage arrears and other personal insolvency cases, by imposing solutions on the parties including those recommended by the new Mortgage Arrears Resolution Service. The hearings of this court could be held in private if requested by the debtor.

Pre-legislative scrutiny expected November 2016