Judicial Appointments

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 June 2017

Tuesday, 20 June 2017

Ceisteanna (900, 901, 902, 903)

Jim O'Callaghan

Ceist:

900. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of applications received by the Judicial Appointments Advisory Board for the vacancy on the Court of Appeal. [29014/17]

Jim O'Callaghan

Ceist:

901. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of applications from serving High Court judges received by the Judicial Appointments Advisory Board for the vacancy on the Court of Appeal. [29015/17]

Jim O'Callaghan

Ceist:

902. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of applications from serving District Court judges received by the Judicial Appointments Advisory Board for the vacancy on the Court of Appeal. [29016/17]

Jim O'Callaghan

Ceist:

903. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of applications from serving Circuit Court judges received by the Judicial Appointments Advisory Board for the vacancy on the Court of Appeal. [29017/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

I propose to take Questions Nos. 900 to 903, inclusive, together.

Under the provisions of section 20 of the Courts and Court Officers Act 1995 all proceedings of the Board and all communications to the Board shall be confidential and shall not be disclosed except for the purposes of this Act.

However, the Deputy may be aware that, in accordance with section 11 of the Court and Court Officers Act 2002, the JAAB is required to make an annual report of its activities, copies of which will be available on the Board's website www.jaab.ie and will also be laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas in due course.

For the information of the Deputy I would point out that it is not in general necessary for eligible serving judges to apply to the JAAB for elevation to higher judicial positions since section 17 of the Courts and Court Officers Act 1995 provides that where the Government proposes to advise the President to appoint to judicial office a person who is for the time being a judge of the High Court, Circuit Court or District Court, the provisions of Section 16 of the Act (i.e. the JAAB application process set out in that section) shall not apply.

The Judicial Appointments Commission Bill, which was published on 1 June 2017, makes provision for a completely new system for selecting persons who wish to apply for appointment to judicial office, comprising a Commission with a lay chair and a lay majority. The proposed new system will, for the first time, include applications by serving judges for appointment to positions in higher judicial courts.