Government agrees appointments to Court of Appeal and High Court

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The Government also agreed in principle to nominate Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy of the High Court for appointment to the Court of Appeal once Mr Justice Alan Mahon retires on 2 July in order to take up his role as Ombudsman for the Defence Forces.

The nominations come in the wake of an unusual public appeal from Mr Justice George Birmingham, president of the Court of Appeal.

Welcoming the decision, Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan said the “important appointments will ensure that the Courts across the jurisdictions are in a position to function at full capacity”.

He added: “I congratulate the new appointees and wish them well in their new roles.”

The minister also highlighted the progress of the controversial Judicial Appointments Commission Bill, which passed all stages in the Dáil last week and will be brought to the Seanad “very soon”.

Mr Flanagan added: “Filling judicial vacancies is happening at the same time as we are delivering major improvements in courts infrastructure. Only last week I attended the formal opening of the renovated and refurbished Cork Courthouse, the sixth project out of a total of seven capital courthouse developments and I look forward to the final project being completed in the coming weeks in Mullingar.”

The vacancies in the Court of Appeal arise from Mr Justice Birmingham’s appointment as president of the Court of Appeal and the retirement of Mr Justice Paul Gilligan, both in May 2018.

The vacancy in the High Court arises from the retirement of Mr Justice Michael Moriarty in April 2018.