Batt O'Keeffe (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

As the Deputy will be aware, work on drafting the scheme of a judicial council Bill is well advanced. The Bill aims to provide effective remedies for complaints about judicial misbehaviour and its provisions will include lay participation in the investigation of complaints. The Bill will also address the question of judicial training and information and, in that context, will provide a means for judges to develop guidelines on sentencing. The Tánaiste has been in consultation with the Judiciary on the provisions of the Bill and is awaiting its final consideration of those proposals.

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