Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 10 December 2020
75. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the date on which she informed all relevant Ministers of proposals to make a judicial appointment in respect of a person (details supplied); the Ministers she informed; the means by which she communicated her intention; and if she included a schedule of other interested parties as part of the appointment process. [39122/20]
View answerI gave a full account of all matters related to the filling of the Supreme Court vacancy during the statements and answers on judicial appointments in the Dáil on 26 November last.
I informed the House then that I had spoken with the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste, Minister Ryan, and the Attorney General between 11 and 14 July in line with the Cabinet Handbook. I then brought a memorandum to Cabinet for the consideration of Government on 15 July recommending a name for appointment by the President to the position. At this remove, I cannot pin-point the precise date between 11 and 14 July on which various conversations took place, and as such I am providing a date range in order to be helpful to the Deputy.
I considered the recommendation of the Judicial Appointments Advisory Board, the expressions of interest from serving judges and all eligible judges. The practice in relation to appointments or nominations to positions made by Government is that only one name is brought to Cabinet by the proposing Minister. As I said to the House, it is a solemn duty on the part of the Minister for Justice to propose to Cabinet someone who, in the opinion of the Minister, is the best person for the particular judicial vacancy. The Government then decides and this is exactly what has happened in this case.
