merrion street

The Hon. Mr. Justice Colm Mac Eochaidh has been nominated by Government for appointment as a judge of the General Court of the European Union. 

This new position has been created under Regulation 2015/2422 of the European Parliament and the Council of 16 December 2015 which provided for a progressive increase in the number of judges in the General Court. 

The nomination follows receipt of recommendations from the expert panel established to assist with identifying persons interested in nomination for the post, considering their suitability and reporting to Government. The proposed appointment will expire on 31 August 2019. 

Before the appointment can be made by the Member States, Mr. Justice Colm Mac Eochaidh will be assessed by the panel set up under Article 255 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, to confirm his suitability for the post. 

By way of further information, Regulation 2015/2422 of 16 December 2015 introduced significant reform of the General Court of the European Union, including increasing the number of judges per Member State, to enable it to deal with an increasing workload and to ensure that legal redress in the EU is guaranteed within a reasonable time. By 2019 each Member State will have two judges in the General Court. Ireland’s current representative in the General Court is Judge Anthony Collins. The current appointment will be for a period ending on 31 August 2019 and this will align the terms of office of both Irish judges on the General Court.