New judges to be appointed to High Court, Circuit Court and District Court

Patrick Quinn SC has also been nominated for appointment to the Circuit Court and solicitor Mary Dorgan to the District Court.

Ms Creedon has been Chief State Solicitor for Ireland since 2012.

The slew of nominations comes against the backdrop of further delays to the publication of the Judicial Appointments Bill.

The bill was brought forward after Independent TD and minister Shane Ross threatened to block judicial appointments in the Cabinet.

Mr Ross has told The Irish Times that he is happy with the progress of the bill, which he expects to be published next week.

Unusually, the Government has also agreed, in principle, who should fill a number of vacancies that will not arise until later in the year.

Barristers Martina Baxter and Eoin Garavan have been recommended for the Circuit Court following the retirements of Judge John O’Hagan in August and Judge David Riordan in October, and barrister Brian O’Shea has been recommended for appointment to the District Court once Judge Aeneas McCarthy retires in June.

The Government will still need to make formal nominations after the vacancies have arisen.