I do not think Deputy MacEoin is exactly correct in saying that I made some promises I did not carry out. When the Courts of Justice Act was going through the Dáil in 1936, it was foreseen, and I think pointed out clearly in the debate, that those court stenographers would lose their positions, certainly a number of them. We did undertake that they were to get one year's salary, or something like that, if they were not employed. What we did undertake was, that we would try, as far as possible, to fit them into positions that might arise, and that they might be employed in the courts in future. Up to the end of 1938, and long after Part IV of the Act of 1936 was brought into operation, those we could not place we paid at the rate of £2 a week. We tried to let them down as lightly as we could, and to use them on every opportunity we got in workmen's compensation cases or criminal cases. We have been trying to employ them, or to provide employment for them there, so as to make their position as easy as we could. Their positions as court stenographers were without any security, and while saying that, we recognise the hardship that could be imposed on these people by being put out of positions, because it was decided by the Legislature to change the system in the courts. I know the case that Deputy MacEoin has in mind, and I agree that it is a hard case.
I agree that it is a hard case and my Department has every sympathy with it. If anything arises by which that man can be provided with employment it will be done. The man has my sympathy and the sympathy of the Department, and we are anxious to deal with the case.
I do not agree with Deputy Moran that we should have stenographers going back to the Circuit Courts taking notes simply for the purpose of enabling somebody in the High Court to get up and cross-examine a witness as to what he said in the Circuit Court. That is going to result in another increase in costs. It means that the solicitor engaged on one side or another is going to get a transcript of the evidence and get somebody in the office to copy it and brief it to his counsel. You have a re-hearing on appeal and a witness can be reminded in the High Court as to what he said in the Circuit Court if he tries to change the case he made at the Circuit Court.