20. Amendment of Courts Act, 1971.
The Courts Act, 1971, is hereby amended by -
(a) the insertion of the following section:
"District Court seal.
(1) The District Court shall, as soon as may be after the passing of the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1997, provide itself with one or, as may be appropriate, more than one seal -
(a) in respect of each District Court Area, and
(b) in respect of the Dublin Metropolitan District,
for use in the District Court Area concerned or the Dublin Metropolitan District, as the case may be.
(2) A seal under this section shall be inscribed with the number of the District Court District and the name of the District Court Area to which it relates or, in the case of the Dublin Metropolitan District, with the name of that District.
(3) Where there is more than one seal in respect of a District Court Area each such seal shall, in addition to the number it is required to bear under subsection (2), bear a number distinguishing it from all other seals in respect of that District Court Area.
(4) Each seal in respect of the Dublin Metropolitan District shall, in addition to the name it is required to bear under subsection (2), bear a number distinguishing it from all other seals in respect of that District.
(5) Rules of court may make provision for the custody of a seal under this section.",
and