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Government makes appointments to Sheriff posts

The Minister for Justice and Equality, Charlie Flanagan TD, has announced that the Government has made permanent appointments to the posts of Dublin City Sheriff with effect from 16 December 2018, Revenue Sheriff for Counties Sligo and Roscommon with effect from 23 December 2018 and Revenue Sheriff for Counties Kildare and Carlow with effect from 29 January 2019.

The Minister said: “I would like to congratulate Mr Joseph Burke, Mr David Kelly and Ms Alice Lanigan on their appointments to the posts of Dublin City Sheriff and as Revenue Sheriffs respectively. The three appointees bring extensive experience to their new positions and I am confident that they will carry out their roles with distinction. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Mr James Barry (Current Dublin City Sheriff), Mr John Kelly (Current Revenue Sheriff for Counties Sligo and Roscommon) and Mr Frank Lanigan (Current Revenue Sheriff for Counties Kildare and Carlow) and wish them well for the future.”

Mr Joseph Burke has been appointed to the post of Dublin City Sheriff. Mr Burke has served as Count Supervisor for Local and European Elections in the Office of the Dublin County Sheriff in addition to being a Managing Partner in private practice.

Mr David Kelly has been appointed to the post of Revenue Sheriff for Counties Sligo and Roscommon. Mr Kelly served as an Assistant to the current Revenue Sheriff prior to being an Associate Solicitor in private practice.

Ms Alice Lanigan has been appointed to the post of Revenue Sheriff for Counties Kildare and Carlow. Ms Lanigan is a practising solicitor with over eleven years’ experience in the areas of debt and asset recovery, professional indemnity, property damage and personal injury.

The appointments were made under section 12(3)(a) of the Court Officers Act 1945. The Public Appointments Service held an open competition for each of the posts which were advertised in June/July of this year to fill these positions which will become vacant on 16 December 2018, 23 December 2018 and 29 January 2019 respectively.

ENDS

Note for Editors

The Public Appointments Service is the independent body charged with fair and impartial recruitment, assessment and selection services for the Civil Service, local authorities, Health Service Executive, An Garda Síochána and other public bodies.

Under the provisions of section 12(5) of the Court Officers Act 1945, to be appointed as Sheriff a person must be either:

· A barrister who has practiced for no less than five years; or
· A solicitor who has practiced for not less than five years; or
· Have acted for not less than five years as managing clerk or
principal assistant to an under-sheriff or sheriff.

Roles of the Dublin County Sheriff
The Dublin County Sheriff is responsible for the enforcement of Court Orders and Revenue Certificates and for acting as Returning Officer under section 30(2) of the Electoral Act 1992.

Role of the Revenue Sheriff
The Revenue Sheriff is responsible for the enforcement of Revenue Certificates under Section 960L of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997.