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President Higgins and Taoiseach Enda Kenny with His Hon. Judge Alan Mahon a he is appointed to the Court of Appeal in 2014. Mark Stedman/Photocall Ireland

'Soon the appointment of judges will be removed from the political arena' - Ross

The Judicial Appointments Commission will have a majority of lay people.

THE JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS Bill, which Minister Shane Ross states will “virtually remove the appointment of judges from the political arena”, was approved by Cabinet.

Currently, the Judicial Appointments Advisory Board identifies candidates and makes recommendations to government – with Cabinet ministers having the final say.

Instead, it will be the responsibility of a judicial appointments commission to make recommendations of appointments to government, which will be made up of a lay majority.

The bill will also reduce the number of recommendations to three, as opposed to the minimum of seven under the current system.

Transport Minister Shane Ross said the Bill was one of the keystone commitments needed in order for the Independent Alliance to enter into government with Fine Gael.

He has been adamant since entering government that he wanted to change the way judges were appointed and at one stage blocked any further appointments from being made under the current system.

However, he faced opposition due to judicial vacancies arising from some retirements, which then could not be filled due to the block on new appointments, leading to backlogs and resentment in the court system.

New appointments

The Irish Times reported that a number of recent new appointees have links with the Fine Gael party – however, the minister would not be drawn on any specific cases today.

In addition to some current vacancies being filled, a number vacancies that will not occur until later in the year were also approved.

Speaking to reporters today, he said he did not agree with the way in which judges have been appointed up until now.

I do not like the way they are appointing judges at the moment, that they have been appointing judges under the old system while I have been in government. I made it a condition at one stage that they didn’t appoint anymore. We then came to an agreement that they could appoint more judges because there was a case being made by many that they system was being clogged up and we didn’t want to see justice being deprived by anybody.
Last week’s appointments were just that pattern… It is that sort of old system that gives rise to the argument where people automatically assume that because they have been politically appointed, they are politically connected, and therefore they are appointed for that reason.

Ross also said he did not ask if any of the appointees had any political links at today’s Cabinet meeting.

“I had agreed there would be judges appointed under this system provided that this Bill [the Judicial Appointments Bill] was published and went to the Dáil – that was the deal,” said Ross, adding:

I wasn’t misled at all.

He said he was given no assurances by anyone that the appointments were “non-contentious”.

The minster said it was not the case that he was forced to approve the judges in order to get his Bill approved today.

Ross said the new judicial appointments commission will provide transparency in the selection of judges and ensure they are appointed on merit.

The new commission will have an “enormous impact” in ensuring the public have confidence in future appointments.

It is understood the judicial appointments bill will come before the Dáil on 20 June. Ross said he wants the Bill to be enacted as soon as possible.

Read: Beaten, neglected, left home alone – The report ‘every parent in the country needs to read’

Read: More than 50 fall ill after north Dublin salmonella outbreak

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    Mute Rob Gale
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    Apr 17th 2022, 3:21 PM

    The ironic thing is, had Michàel Martin being around in 1916 he’d condemn the rising and all who took part.

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    Mute Mark Harrison
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    Apr 17th 2022, 3:43 PM

    @Rob Gale: yes..agree..he would have labelled them as terrorists ..

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    Mute Eire
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    Apr 17th 2022, 4:34 PM

    @Rob Gale: mehole is a Langer & that’s putting mildly

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    Mute John Byrne
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    Apr 17th 2022, 6:00 PM

    @Rob Gale: and if my aunty had liathróidí she’d be my uncle. Most of the blood sacrifice was done by ordinary citizens

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    Mute Rory
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    Apr 17th 2022, 6:27 PM

    @Mark Harrison: why would you say that.

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    Mute Richard Ahern
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    Apr 17th 2022, 6:55 PM

    @Rob Gale: Having studied that period of time, some years ago, that was the feeling of the majority of Irish people at the time; terrorists in action. I can understand that fully. Move forward to more recent years and consider the regular comments regarding how we (ROI) should have this, that or the other (health service and so on) because they have it in the UK. The reality is we can’t have what UK citizens have because of economies of scale. Should we consider becoming part of a greater whole again? Maybe we should look at it. We ain’t doing too well on our own, what with huge financial debt and no need to mention that hospital situation.

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    Mute Fergus Quinlan
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    Apr 17th 2022, 11:03 PM

    @Rob Gale: they would have been regarded as terrorists and the UK would call in the US to but Down the notion of a self declared Republic….!!

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    Mute Mick
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    Apr 18th 2022, 9:25 AM

    @Rob Gale: Lessons have to be learned!!!

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    Mute Rob Gale
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    Apr 18th 2022, 11:05 AM

    @Richard Ahern: I have a theory on that. I don’t think it’s to do with economies of scale. Look at Denmark with the same population and how they’re performing. One of many examples. Ok so, agreed, we have not done well running our own shop. And seem to still look to pass it off to others (first the church, then Europe more recently). But I think it’s because we have never had money as a people. For centuries. So once there’s money in the mix, like public finances, we don’t know how to responsibly manage it or deal with it. So there’s an instinct to feather you’re own nest and the people close to you. So then we’re left with deep corruption in every institution. If you look at any body in ireland it’ll be corrupt to the core. And that’s how ya end up with the wrong people in charge.

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    Mute Madra
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    Apr 17th 2022, 7:30 AM

    Have a wonderful Easter one and all.

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    Mute The Ghost of Micheal Collins
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    Apr 17th 2022, 10:54 AM

    What they undertook to do
    They brought to pass;
    All things hang like a drop of dew
    Upon a blade of grass.

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    Mute Gary ODonnell
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    Apr 17th 2022, 11:32 AM

    Why do they have the reading of the proclamation on Easter Sunday when the rising didn’t take place until Easter Monday?

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    Mute Mickey Finn
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    Apr 17th 2022, 12:22 PM

    @Gary ODonnell: Maybe it’s handy. I suppose the inportant thing is that the event is commemorated annually and the Easter date moves around anyway.

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    Mute Paul Shepherd
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    Apr 17th 2022, 3:37 PM

    @Gary ODonnell: why is Patricks Day celebrated on March 17th for a person who never existed?

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    Mute Garbhán Ó Ruis
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    Apr 17th 2022, 6:54 PM

    @Paul Shepherd: We have St. Patrick’s writings. Many things about what he did may be debated, but the evidence for his existence is not in doubt.

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    Mute Sequoia
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    Apr 17th 2022, 9:05 PM

    @Gary ODonnell:

    It also didn’t occur until April 24th which is when it should be marked.

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    Mute Paul Dunne
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    Apr 17th 2022, 10:11 PM

    @Paul Shepherd: Thats what sets the irish apart.

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    Mute Gavin Tobin
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    Apr 17th 2022, 1:33 PM

    Will the #IrishAirCorps be using Green & Orange dye or has that been banned.

    https://www.accas.info/?p=2820

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    Mute v39e84kK
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    Apr 17th 2022, 6:50 PM

    Attending events is the pinnacle of their skillset.

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    Mute Colm O'Leary
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    Apr 17th 2022, 1:02 PM

    The elastic band will be out in force today!!!

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    Mute Paul Byrne
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    Apr 17th 2022, 5:29 PM

    Was it poppy day

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    Mute The only INFP in Ireland
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    Apr 17th 2022, 8:06 PM
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    Mute Rory
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    Apr 18th 2022, 12:03 AM
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