Vol. 571 No. 1
1163 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the way in which the conduct and assessment of judges is monitored; if he has satisfied himself with current arrangements; the plans he has to improve these arrangements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20189/03]
The issue of Judicial Conduct and Ethics has been considered in the recent past by the constitutional review group and by an All-Party Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution which, inter alia, recognised the need for improved oversight of judicial conduct and, in the case of 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 my predecessor had proposals to act in this area in terms of proposing constitutional amendment to be followed by legislation to establish a judicial council and ethics committee but that he felt compelled to withdraw the proposals because of the failure of the main opposition parties to support them. However, I am convinced of the need for action in this area and particularly the need for a judicial ethics and oversight body. In that respect preliminary work on legislative proposals has continued in my Department and I would hope to be in a position to publish legislative proposals in that regard early next year.
