Bar chairman calls for investment in ‘underfunded’ judiciary

Paul McGarry, chairman of the Council of The Bar of Ireland, has called for investment in Ireland’s underfunded judiciary, RTÉ News reports.

Mr McGarry, making his address at the Bar Council’s annual chairman’s dinner, reportedly drew attention to the fact Ireland has the lowest number of judges per capita of any OECD country.

He said it remained problematic that those judges were not adequately resourced in terms of researchers, registrars and support staff.

In a pointed criticism of the proposed new Judicial Appointments Commission, Mr McGarry also said it was “worrying some people” have prioritised spending on a new quango over devoting additional resources to the maintenance of high judicial standards.

However, he also welcomed the establishment of the Legal Services Regulatory Authority and said its new costs regime - which has yet to be implemented - was long overdue.