Courts save €1,700 in power bill

The law courts in the first four months of this year saved €1,700 in their energy bill following the installation of photovoltaic panels on the roof (costing €46,000 and producing 15kWp) and the installation of double glazing, Justice Minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici said.

He said at a press conference this morning that 'solar tubes' had also been installed in the top storey of the building to reflect sunlight and practically no one needed to switch on the lights. There was also a new, more economical, air conditioning system.

Dr Mifsud Bonnici said that among other measures taken recently, new energy-saving bulbs had been installed. Use was being made of a reservoir in the basement of the law courts, thus reducing the use of tap water.

Dr Mifsud Bonnici said that the reforms made in recent years to reduce the courts' backlog were paying off.

He said the magistrates courts had, among others, decided 4,674 criminal compilations since 2006. There were 5,550 Family Court (criminal) decisions, 9,663 fiscal cases and 8,667 traffic cases.

Dr Mifsud Bonnici said the judges and magistrates were tackling the important cases much sooner than before, while the minor cases were no longer ending up in courts but were being decided by tribunals.

Replying to questions, he said a process had started to replace tape recorders with electronic systems for the recording of hearings, but the process was a slow one until all concerned felt sufficiently confident in the use of the modern equipment.

On the interruption of court sittings because of bomb threats, Dr Mifsud Bonnici said the policy was to better be safe than sorry, but the authorities were working to deter and prevent such hoaxes.