The majority of the bills expected to fall were introduced by backbench TDs, who had more opportunities to introduce legislation than usual because of the nature of the confidence-and-supply arrangement between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil.

Independent Alliance TD and Transport Minister Shane Ross, who has led the drive for reform of the judicial appointments process, has told The Irish Times that he hopes the legislation will be re-introduced after the election.

Mr Ross said the bill “hasn’t gone” and he was “very hopefully it will be revived in its present form”.

However, Mr Justice David Barniville, president of the Association of Judges of Ireland (AJI), said the lapsing of the bill would be a good opportunity for the Government to reconsider its plans.

Another judge told The Irish Times that the judiciary would “breathe a sigh of relief” at the lapsing of the bill.