As the Deputy will be aware, my colleague the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform is responsible for policy in relation to both salary and pensions payable to the judiciary.
As I informed the Deputy in my reply to Question 520 on 19 June 2012, the two Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Acts of 2009 which reduced the pay of public servants were applied by the provisions of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Amendment) Act 2011 to the salaries of judges with effect from 1 January 2012. The effect of the percentage pay reduction and the percentage pension levy deduction applied is set out in the table below. In addition, there is a consequential reduction in pensions payable as this is calculated based on the reduced gross pay rate.
Judicial Office
|
Salary — Pre 1 Jan 2012
|
Revised Gross Salary
|
Effective net salary
|
Overall % Reduction
|
Chief Justice*
|
€295,916
|
€251,529
|
€227,168
|
-23.2%
|
President of the High Court
|
€274,779
|
€233,562
|
€211,088
|
-23.2%
|
Judge of the Supreme Court
|
€257,872
|
€219,191
|
€198,226
|
-23.1%
|
President of the Circuit Court
|
€249,418
|
€212,005
|
€191,794
|
-23.1%
|
Judge of the High Court
|
€243,080
|
€206,618
|
€186,973
|
-23.1%
|
President of the District Court
|
€183,894
|
€161,827
|
€146,885
|
-20.1%
|
Judge of the Circuit Court
|
€177,554
|
€156,248
|
€141,892
|
-20.1%
|
Judge of the District Court
|
€147,961
|
€136,124
|
€123,881
|
-16.3%
|
*It should be noted that the current Chief Justice opted to remain on her existing salary as a Supreme Court judge and did not avail of the higher salary applicable to the office of Chief Justice from 25 July 2011 to 31 December 2011.