Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
MINISTER SHANE ROSS has said he’s sorry for using ‘colourful language’ about the country’s judges when speaking about reform of judges’ appointments.
Last month, the Independent Alliance TD said that judges lived a ‘charmed life’, claiming there has “always been massive resistance to change from the judiciary”.
In a statement issued a week later, the Chief Justice Susan Denham contradicted the Minister’s comments, saying that there had been “five years of efforts by the judiciary to have the process of judicial appointments reformed and made more transparent”.
Speaking today upon the publication of a new approach to how judges will be selected, Shane Ross was asked whether he now regretted his comments:
“I think that some of the things that were said were very robust, but many of these things they had to be said because it was very important that people realised what we were doing.”
Maybe the language was too colourful, I think it was too colourful for lots of people in government as well and I’m sorry if it was too colourful.
“Otherwise the thrust of what we’ve done, we’re very very happy with the fact that we’ve achieved this for the first time. This is a very radical bill – it’s the most radical bill I think that’s been put forward under this government.”
The reforms for how judicial appointments will be made include having a lay chair on the board and a lay majority (the ratio will be 5:6), and a renewed emphasis on diversity in terms of gender and nationality.
“We’re delighted with the fact that it’s going to be independent, it’s going to be transparent, there’s going to be diversity in those who choose justice,” continued the Minister.
We’re going to see the selection of judges virtually taken out of the political arena, and it’s also not going to be dominated by the legal profession. That’s a huge achievement, so I’m really happy with where we’ve got so far.
Commenting on the publishing of these reforms under the Scheme of Judicial Appointments Commision Bill, Tánaiste Frances Fitzgerald said that the gender and country of the person will be an important consideration for appointments.
Speaking on Drivetime, she said that the old system of appointments didn’t mean favours were done for friends, but that this was simply a case of updating the system.
She said that she didn’t agree with Shane Ross that the system was ‘broken’, saying in a statement released earlier today that “we are fortunate to have Ireland a strong, independent, impartial and well respected judiciary and these reforms will ensure this continues”.
‘Very powerful people’
In a statement issued following the National Judges Conference in November, the Chief Justice took the opportunity to ‘clear the air’ over judges’ stances on judicial reform.
“In our democracy the three great pillars of State – the legislature, the executive and the judiciary – derive their powers from the people. It is a fundamental principle, that each of the great organs of State owes respect to the other.
Inaccurate discussion and misrepresentation of the position of the judiciary has been a feature of recent public discourse.
“Amongst other factors, it is surprising that it has been stated that the Judiciary are fighting change – when the opposite is the case – the Judiciary have been advocating change, but it has not yet been advanced.”
“There was no intention of getting anybody’s backs up,” said Ross when asked why the comments were made in the first place. ”Of course there wasn’t and you can see from the bill that we’ve been accommodating the judges that we value their expertise. We’re going to have at least two judges there, probably more.”
“We’re going to have another judge of relevant jurisdictions coming in to contribute to the interviews and deliberations. I don’t think it’s fair to say I’ve gone out of my way to antagonise them.
I know it’s very difficult to change things, in situations like this, they’re very powerful people who don’t like things being moved, so those have to be done.
Ross added that some issues around how judges are selected still have to be ironed out.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Wear a mask no problem, avoid pubs no problem, no crowds ok. Visiting my family will continue no matter what. I’ve hit my breaking point. Anyone else?
@Richard Griffin: the true meaning of Christmas about to become clearer right? Family Time.
@Richard Griffin: the same. Reasonable measures yes, the remaining excesses , no.
@Isabel Oliveira:
Could not agree more.
Proper hand hygiene, social distancing, wearing a mask etc all good, all needed.
Everything else = Nonsense of the highest order. Stopped going into shops that just accept cards now, and will continue to do so when the pandemic ends. I have a bank card, it’s just the principle, my elderly family members don’t. That’s just one example of excess.
@Darren Anthony Corr: yes i am the exact same! Lots of small shops here where i am refusing to except cash! Lots of people i know too are staying away from these shops! Madness!
@Richard Griffin: Spot on Richard. Common sense at all times and everyone should be ok
@Madethyme:
Here where I am, Argos has a person at the door asking you what your looking for and won’t let you in until you tell them. The person at the door doesn’t even get the item you want for you, so I don’t get what that’s about?
Then Power City here has a massive outlet store, very easily to social distance. But you walk in and can’t look at anything in store, you have to go to a hatch and shout about 12 feet across the floor to some disinterested staff member about what your looking for and then they get it. And not accepting cash.
Two examples of stores I will not visit when all this is over. WHO has even said cash is a very small risk, so I don’t get the whole cashless thing really.
@Darren Anthony Corr: it costs a business money to deposit cash into the bank. ‘Security’ fees….cheaper to accept card only. I’m in sweden and no shops take cash anymore. Been that way for years. Get used to it.
“Sorry there annoying uncles, aunts and cousins, the aul COVID 19 restrictions your know yourselves. Just put the presents on the door step and back off”
How can they do a six month plan when emergency powers finish on November 9th. They’re already sure they’ll have these renewed. That’s how. Nobody will be able to sustain this limbo until March 2021.
Happy Christmas everyone!
@Twitruser2020: and a happy new year!. 2021 had better got its acts together and be better than the “year that shall not be named”.
This year it will be just me and a Turkey, hopefully one of us will be alive and well.
Yep. I’ve had enough of their bleating on. The bubble is about to burst
Take necessary precautions to keep each other safe, practice social distancing and hand hygiene, wear a mask on public transports, shops and enclosed places.
Everything else is just nonsense. The whole household thing doesn’t even make sense and is unlikely to be enforced anyway. The whole contactless payments only thing that some stores are doing is a joke and the excessive measures taken by certain businesses using Covid as an excuse just to cut corners and save money, I’ll remember you when the pandemic is over.
Great out for avoiding the annual pilgrimage to the in laws gaff
What about Halloween first,will there be no trick or treating!!!
@James Hayes: it’s outdoors and most will be wearing masks anyway
@James Hayes: visions of people dosing kids with hand sanitiser at every gate and placing double wrapped treat size lidl bars into a bag from 6 feet away with one of those mobility aid grabbers. Then leaving the bag of sweets outdoors to quarantine for 3 days
@James Hayes: Bangers going off in my area since August so looks like it’s going ahead.
@James Hayes: will be catapulting mini mars bars from the upstairs window
@James Hayes: that I will not miss! A bonus.
@Maria Hickey-Fagan: excellent comments Maria et all, they all made me giggle. Ya it seem like we’ll be leaving buckets of goodies out by the garden gate.;-)
@InvaderSkoodge: Sound plan. I got out the Halloween window decorations today. Have to have something to look forward to!
Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Covid Tuesday, Stay at home Thursday, Social Distance Sunday – Amazon marketing train on the move.
Christmas!!!
Jasus.
Gotta run !
Levels 4 and 5, no Santa I presume…..
@Peter B: You would think he is vulnerable considering his weight and age
Can’t wait to get home to see ye all, oh wait
Oh rite I’ll put a 6 month plan in place and not discuss Christmas….!
Jesus Christ!!!
An excuse to avoid “the most wonderful time of the year”. Instead of a drink and biscuit for Santa and a carrot for Rudolph it will be a facemask and hand sanitiser.
They’ll give us 3 days off then bring out the jackboots for NYE…
Will santa be able to visit houses
I got a frozen turkey in Lidl last new year so I’ll be ok.
Halloween- cancelled
Xmas- cancelled
virus = under control
New Years eve – people ignore rules, Virus takes off again
Mícheál Martin Christmas is a time for families and hell will freeze over before you or your government will say who can & can’t visit my home Christmas or any other time for that matter Gardaí already under Resource and need to be dealing with crime not following up on people who have family or friends in their homes
Why write this in September? Nonsense
Will be the same as every year no change and that’s that.
There’s gonna be panic buying of the turkeys isn’t there !?! Sigh…
Me too, absolutely
have your say