Departmental Bodies

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 February 2013

Thursday, 28 February 2013

Questions (179)

Kevin Humphreys

Question:

179. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a list of the members or former members of the Judiciary who, during the past five years, have acted as chairperson or member of any body in or under his Department, or as chairperson or member of any inquiry, or have performed functions including arbitration, mediation, conciliation, patronage, advisory or law reform functions or any other role in or in any body under his Department or in any body wholly or partly funded by him, specifying in each case the name of the judge; if he or she is serving or retired; the court of which he or she is or was a member; the role or function performed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10879/13]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

Under section 105(2) of the Planning and Development Acts 2000-2012, the President of the High Court sits on a committee which recommends candidates for possible appointment by Government as Chairperson of An Bord Pleanála. The last appointment of a Chair took place in 2011 and the President (Mr. Justice Nicholas J. Kearns) was involved in that selection committee.

The Tribunal regarding Inquiry into Certain Planning Matters and Payments comprised of Judges of the Circuit Court, Judge Alan Mahon, Judge Mary Faherty and Judge Gerald Keys. Judge Mahon continues to act in respect of cost awards arising from the work of the Tribunal.

In relation to Franchise matters the following appointments were made in the period 2008-12:

Year	Judiciary Member	Court at appointment	Date of Appointment	Serving / Retired at appointment	Function
2008	Hon. Mr. Justice Iarfhlaith O’Neill	High Court	6 March 2008	Serving	Chairperson of the Referendum Commission on the Lisbon Treaty
2009	Hon. Mr. Justice Frank Clarke	High Court	7 July 2009	Serving	Chairperson of the Referendum Commission the Treaty of Lisbon
2011	Hon. Mr Justice John D Cooke	High Court	27 July 2011	Serving	Chairperson of the Constituency Commission to report on Dáil and European Parliament constituencies.
2011	Hon. Mr. Justice Bryan McMahon	High Court	5 September 2011	Retired	Chairperson of the Referendum Commission on Judges’ Remuneration
2011	Hon. Mr. Justice Bryan McMahon	High Court	13 September 2011	Retired	Chairperson of the Referendum Commission on Houses of the Oireachtas Inquiries
2011	Hon. Mr. Justice Nicholas Kearns	President of the High Court	28 September 2011	Serving	Judicial Assessor to the Presidential Returning Officer at the ruling on Presidential election nominations
2012	Hon. Mr. Justice Kevin Feeney	High Court	30 March 2012	Serving	Chairperson of the Referendum Commission on the Treaty on Stability, Coordination and governance in the Economic and Monetary Union
2012	Hon. Ms. Justice Mary Finlay Geoghegan	High Court	19 September 2012	Serving	Chairperson of the Referendum Commission on the Children’s Referendum

In respect of the local authorities and the agencies under the aegis of my Department day to day operational matters, including appointments of the kind outlined in the question, are a matter for the local authority or agencies concerned.