Fitzgerald to seek agreement on judicial appointments and bail bills

Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald will today seek Cabinet approval for two pieces of legislation which will reform the judicial appointments process and tighten Ireland’s bail laws.

Ministers will be asked to approve the heads of the Judicial Appointments Bill, which has been expedited due to pressure from Fine Gael’s junior coalition partners, the Independent Alliance.

Deadlock over further appointments under the existing system came to an end last week after the two political forces reached a compromise.

She will also seek agreement on the Bail Amendment Bill, which will implement significantly tighter bail rules.

The bill would allow courts to refuse bail on a greater number of grounds and to attach more bail conditions, such as a prohibition on driving (where the offence is a serious road traffic offence) or a curfew.

Under the bill, courts will also give reasons when bail is refused.