At its meeting today, under the provisions of the Personal Insolvency Act 2012, the Government nominated six persons for appointment by the President as Specialist Judges of the Circuit Court. Those nominated for appointment are: Ms Mary Enright, County Registrar for Kilkenny; Ms Verona Lambe, County Registrar for Offaly; Mr William Lyster, County Registrar for Roscommon; Mr Patrick Meghan, County Registrar for Limerick; Ms Mary O’Malley, County Registrar for Meath and Ms Susan Ryan, County Registrar for Dublin.
Part Six of the Personal Insolvency Act 2012 provided for the amendment of the Courts Acts to create a cadre of Specialist Judges of the Circuit Court to facilitate the speedy consideration of insolvency applications by that Court. In order to avoid expenditure on additional judicial salaries and pensions, eligibility for these new judgeships was initially confined under the provisions of the 2012 Act to serving County Registrars. These independent office holders have the necessary legal qualifications and practice experience and are in receipt of state salaries ranging from €129,521 to €145,952. The current salary for a Judge of the Circuit Court, appointed after 1 January 2012, is €140,623 regardless of their current salary. The number of county registrar posts will now be reduced by six from 23 to 17 and work redistributed following consultation with the serving county registrars.
In accordance with the legislation, today’s nominations follow the receipt of recommendations from the Judicial Appointments Advisory Board which considered nine applications for the posts. The Government has taken the necessary steps to formally advise President Higgins of the nominations in accordance with constitutional procedure.
11 June 2013
Note for Editors
Biographical details for Ms Mary Enright
Born: 1955
Educated: Law Society
Solicitor with Edward A. Kelly & Co.(1977/8); Francis J. O’Mahony & Co. (1978-82), James Fagan & Co. (1982-85)
Appointed County Registrar for Kilkenny 1985
Biographical Details for Ms Verona Lambe
Born: 1959
Educated: UCD
Solicitor with Gerard I. Lambe (1988-91); in sole practice (1991-93); Legal Aid Board (1993 – 2000) and Patrick V Boland & Co. (2000-1)
County Registrar for Offaly 2001 to date
Biographical Details for Mr William Lyster
Born: 1949
FCCA 1979, Solicitor 1980, Bachelor of Commerce 1975
Solicitor Lyster Forde & Co (1982-97)
County Registrar for Roscommon 1997 to date
Biographical Details for Mr Patrick Meghan
Born: 1953
Educated: Trinity College, Law Society, Kings Inn and UCD
Called to the Bar 1975, Arbitrator 1991
Solicitor in sole practice 1982 -2000
Coroner for West Limerick 1989 - 2000
County Registrar for Limerick 2000 to date
Vice Chair, Employment Appeals Tribunal
Former Chairman, County Registrar Association.
Biographical Details for Ms. Mary O’Malley
Born: 1958
Educated: UCD
Solicitor with Gallagher Shatter (1980-89); sole practitioner (1989-1998); John C. Walsh & Co. (1998-2001); Dempsey & Co. ((2001-2005) and Steen O’Reilly & Co. (2005-2007)
Lecturer, Incorporated Law Society 1986 to date
County Registrar for Meath 2007 to date
Committee member of County Registrar’s Association.
Biographical Details for Susan Ryan
Born: 1954
Educated: NUI and Law Society
Solicitor with John Rochford & Co. (1980-82); Eugene F. Collins & Co. (1982-1999)
County Registrar for Dublin 1999 to date
Member of the Circuit Court Rules Committee.