Chief Justice Donal O'Donnell

The first judicial vacancies to be filled under the new system will be advertised online “in the coming days and weeks”, the Courts Service has said.

All candidates, including serving judges, will be required to fill out an application and go through an interview process before they can be recommended to the government for appointment as judges.

Chief Justice Donal O’Donnell, chair of the Commission, said today: “The establishment of the Judicial Appointments Commission is an important development in the history of the Irish judiciary and introduces significant changes to the judicial appointments system in Ireland.

“The new Commission will deliver on a programme of selection for judicial vacancies, based on an unambiguous legislative requirement that judicial appointments continue to be based on merit.”

The new Commission, replacing the now dissolved Judicial Appointments Advisory Board (JAAB), represents the biggest reform in the way judges are chosen for appointment in a quarter of a century.

All judicial posts, whether first appointment or by promotion, are governed by the new procedure, which includes an interview process overseen by the Commission.

Three candidates will be recommended for any vacancy, with an additional two recommendations for a second and additional vacancies, i.e. seven recommendations where there are three vacancies.

Only persons recommended by the Commission will be recommended by the government for appointment by the president.

Mr Justice O’Donnell said: “The empowering of an independent Commission to recommend fewer persons for judicial appointment than the previous system will bring Ireland closer into line with international requirements and will be an important safeguard for judicial independence.

“The new system also paves the way for the Commission to collaborate with the wider legal community and others to work towards a judiciary which reflects the increasing diversity in the community.

“Public confidence in the judiciary begins with confidence in the system of judicial appointment.

“I look forward to working with the judicial and lay members of the Commission to develop the procedures which will result in the recommendation of the most suitable candidates for judicial appointment.”

The Chief Justice is joined on the Commission by the presidents of the various courts: Court of Appeal president Ms Justice Caroline Costello, High Court president Mr Justice David Barniville, Circuit Court president Ms Justice Patricia Ryan and District Court president Judge Paul Kelly.

High Court judge Ms Justice Mary Rose Gearty and Judge Alan Mitchell of the District Court are also members, elected by the Judicial Council.

The lay members are HR and governance expert Bernie Gray; Dr Eleanor O’Higgins, adjunct associate professor in UCD College of Business and associate at LSE; Dr Rónán Kennedy, associate professor in University of Galway School of Law; and Dr Terrence McWade, former CEO of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland.

Attorney General Rossa Fanning SC is the final, non-voting commissioner.