Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 29 April 2004
120 Mr. J. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the steps which have been taken to implement the promise made in An Agreed Programme for Government to address judicial misbehaviour; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12400/04]
View answerWork is under way in my Department on the development of a scheme of a Bill on judicial conduct and ethics, arising out of the reports on these matters produced by the All-Party Committee on the Constitution and the committee on judicial conduct and ethics chaired by Mrs. Justice Susan Denham. Among the matters to be provided for in the Bill is a process for the investigation of complaints about judicial misbehaviour, including lay participation in the investigation of complaints. This process would not be a substitute for impeachment as the ultimate sanction available for dealing with allegations of the most serious misconduct, though the expectation is that in appropriate cases the process could result in a recommendation to the Houses of the Oireachtas that impeachment proceedings be considered.
As indicated in the Government legislation programme for the summer 2004 session, which was announced by the Chief Whip on Monday last, I expect to be in a position to seek Government approval to publish the Bill in the current year.
