Jim O'Keeffe
Ceist:495 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his proposals to deal with the judicial conduct Bill. [7771/02]
Written Answers. - Proposed Legislation.
The issue of judicial conduct and ethics has been considered in the recent past by the constitutional review group and an All-Party Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution which, inter alia, recognised the need for improved oversight of judicial conduct. The all-party committee recommended the establishment of a judicial council to review judicial conduct. More recently a report from a judicial committee established by the Chief Justice also recommended the establishment of a judicial ethics and oversight body.
The Deputy will know that I had proposals to act immediately in this area in terms of proposing constitutional amendment to be followed by legislation to establish a judicial council and ethics committee. I felt compelled to withdraw my proposals because of the failure of the main Opposition parties to support them. However, I remain convinced of the need for action in this area, particularly the need for a judicial ethics and oversight body. In that respect preliminary work on legislative proposals has continued in my Department.