No judges to be appointed until judicial appointments reform

No new judges will be appointed until Ireland’s judicial appointments system is reformed, a Government minister has said

Transport Minister Shane Ross told The Irish Times: “We have appointed the last judges under the old system.”

Mr Ross said the heads of a judicial appointments bill are due to be published by Christmas, and the bill will be passed as a matter of priority.

He was not sure when the legislation would be enacted, but said current vacancies - one in the Supreme Court and two in the Circuit Court - put a “very welcome pressure” on the move.

Mr Ross also said the Judicial Council Bill - which was recently raised by the Chief Justice, Ms Justice Susan Denham, in her speech to mark the new legal year - would be enacted as soon as possible.

In May, it was reported that Mr Ross had secured a Government commitment to replace the existing Judicial Appointments Advisory Board with a new judicial appointments commission.

The measure was a condition of Mr Ross’s support for the Fine Gael-led Government.