(1)    A petition shall be tried by the High Court and references to the court in this Schedule shall be construed as references to the High Court.

(2) The following provisions shall have effect in relation to the trial of a petition:

(a)  in fixing the date for and conducting the trial, the court shall deal with the matter as soon as is reasonably possible;
(b)  notwithstanding the death of any person to whose election the petition relates, his resignation as a member of the Dáil or his otherwise ceasing to be such member, the court shall have power to continue the trial if it considers it to be in the interests of justice to do so;
(c)  the Director of Public Prosecutions may at any stage be represented at and take part in the trial as a party, whether of his own motion or at the request of the court;
(d)  the returning officer for the relevant constituency shall, at the request of the court, attend the trial and give such assistance as shall be requested of him by the court, but without prejudice to his being a party to the proceedings or being called as a witness by any such party.