Government to prioritise ‘administration of justice’ in judicial appointments row

There are currently five vacancies in the Irish courts: one in the Supreme Court; three in the Circuit Court; and one in the District Court.

The Government has come under pressure to reform the judicial appointments process from the Independent Alliance, which said it would use its role in coalition to block further appointments.

The last appointment agreed by Government was Ms Justice Leonie Reynold’s appointment to the High Court on 20 September 2016.

She was formally appointed by the President last Thursday and formally sworn in before the Supreme Court on Tuesday.

A week after her appointment was agreed, Government minister Shane Ross said the Government had “appointed the last judges under the old system” and would introduce a new process.

However, leading judges said a halt on appointments would be “disastrous” and The Bar of Ireland warned delays may “not respect the constitutional right of access to the Courts and the obligation to ensure that justice is administered speedily and efficiently”.

A spokesperson for the Department of Justice told Irish Legal News: “In respect of existing and future vacancies in the Courts, the requirements of the administration of justice will be the overriding priority for the Government over the period ahead as the necessary reforms in regard to the judicial appointments process are brought forward as expeditiously as practicable.”