Bill

Purpose

Status

Mediation Bill

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

Heads of bill approved February 2012, drafting is continuing

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.

Heads of bill approved; drafting at an advanced stage

Civil Liability (Amendment) Bill

To give financial security to those who have been catastrophically injured and who require life long care and attention.

Heads of bill approved 27 May 2015; drafting at an advanced stage

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 are being prepared

Family Court Bill

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

Heads of bill expected in Autumn 2016

Judicial Appointments Bill

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

Heads of bill expected by end year 2016

Juries Bill

To reform the law relating to 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.

Referendum is included in the Programme for Government

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.

Heads of bill expected September 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.

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 Insolvency Service. The hearings of this court could be held in private if requested by the debtor.

Currently under consideration