The court services agency wants to dispel any speculation that the process of paying experts is creating a delay in the judicial proceedings. As evidenced by the statistics presented in Parliament, the majority of payments have only been pending for thirty (30) days.
The Agency reminds that in the last three years the total expenditure on experts amounted to more than 26 million (2021: €9,316,651; 2022: €8,976,706; 2023: €8,397,708) and for the coming year the Government again increased the budget allocation with two million more for this service. The Agency also points out that every invoice submitted for payment is verified by the Accounts of the Agency, so that before making the payment it is ensured that the invoice or the vouchers submitted are signed by the judge who nominated the expert in question.
It is also a basic principle that the expert is paid after the work he is hired to do is carried out and the report is presented in the acts, this is to ensure that the work done is of the level expected. The Agency would also like to point out that most experts do not submit the invoice for payment immediately after they have carried out the assignment and presented the report, there are even experts who submit invoices/vouchers six months in arrears and even a year.
Despite the unfounded allegations, the Agency will remain committed as it already does, to continues to offer all assistance to the judiciary in the performance of their duties to have all the available tools for justice to be done within a reasonable time. The Agency is also participating in internal discussions on the reform in the field of magisterial inquiries , reform which will lead, among other things, to more investment in the field of inquiries as well as a more accountable process where expert appointments are made.
