36.—(1) For ensuring the prompt and efficient discharge of the business of the District Court in the several districts thereof, the President of the District Court shall have and exercise the powers conferred on him by subsections (2), (3) and (4) of this section.

(2) F70[…]

(b) In the course of an investigation under this subsection, the President shall consult the justice concerned.

(3) (a) The President of the District Court may convene meetings of the justices of the District Court for the purpose of discussing matters relating to the discharge of the business of that Court, including, in particular, such matters as the avoidance of undue divergences in the exercise by the justices of the jurisdiction of that Court and the general level of fines and other penalties.

(b) Such meetings shall not be convened more frequently than twice in one year.

(c) Every justice shall attend at every such meeting unless unable to do so owing to illness or any other unavoidable cause and, where a justice is unable to attend such a meeting, he shall as soon as may be inform the President of the reason therefor.

(4) The President of the District Court may, whenever he thinks fit, make recommendations to the Minister in relation to the following matters:

(a) the number of justices of the District Court to be assigned to the Dublin Metropolitan District;

(b) the places for holding the District Court in or for any district court area; and

(c) the days and hours for holding the District Court in or for any district court area other than the area for the time being comprising the Dublin Metropolitan District.

F71[(5) In the interests of the administration of justice and the determination of proceedings in a manner which is just, expeditious and likely to minimise the cost of those proceedings—

(a) the President of the District Court, or

(b) any other judge of the District Court as may be nominated for that purpose by the President of the District Court,

may, subject to any practice direction issued under subsection (6), make any order or give any direction he or she thinks appropriate in relation to the conduct of proceedings before the District Court.

(6) The President of the District Court may, in the interests of the administration of justice and the determination of proceedings in a manner which is just, expeditious and likely to minimise the cost of those proceedings, issue directions (in this section referred to as "practice directions") in relation to the conduct of proceedings before the District Court.

(7) A practice direction may relate to—

(a) civil or criminal proceedings, or both, or

(b) a class or classes of civil or criminal proceedings, or both,

and may make provision for such incidental, supplementary and consequential matters, including in respect of a failure to comply with any matter provided for in a direction, as appear to the President of the District Court to be necessary or expedient for the purposes of the direction.

(8) A practice direction shall be published in such manner as the President of the District Court may direct.

(9) Subsections (5) to (8) are without prejudice to any powers of the District Court in respect of proceedings before it.]