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The Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality, Frances Fitzgerald TD, has published the General Scheme of the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill.

The Tánaiste said: “This Bill will deliver on the commitments in the Programme for a Partnership Government to reform the system for judicial appointments.
“There was a significant input to the development of the reforms in the public consultations process in 2014 and I want to acknowledge the many constructive and helpful contributions that were received.
“The Scheme provides for a new Commission for Judicial Appointments, including a lay chair and a lay majority. The lay members of the Commission will be selected by the Public Appointments Service and the PAS will also select the Chairperson.

“The Scheme also refers to the desirability of both gender balance and diversity based on the population among the judiciary, and among those who are selected to be lay members of the Commission.

“I look forward to working with members of the Oireachtas Justice Committee on progressing this legislation and the reform of the judicial appointments process in line with the Programme for Partnership Government.

“Finally I would say that we are fortunate to have Ireland a strong, independent, impartial and well respected judiciary and these reforms will ensure this continues.”

The General Scheme is available here http://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/Scheme-of-Judicial-Appointments-Commission-Bill-2016