Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

The judicial council Bill, No. 80 on the list of legislation, was promised originally back in 2001 when the then Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform decided not to proceed with a constitutional amendment related to the issue of judicial conduct. Looking back to the Government's legislation list published in May 2003, this Bill was then called judicial conduct and ethics Bill and was promised for 2004, but it has been pushed back further and further since then. The current legislation list states it is not possible to indicate when publication of the Bill is expected. Why is publication of the Bill being pushed back?

Does the Government not agree that the matter of judicial conduct and the regulation of judicial conduct and of judges is important? We had the case of Circuit Court Judge Brian Curtin, which involved the Oireachtas engaging in a complicated process leading to his potential impeachment. If a similar problem arose with another judge, we would be faced with the same procedure as the only way available to deal with it. We also hear eccentric and irrational comments and outbursts from a few members of the Judiciary from time to time. This Bill was meant to provide a forum in which judges' behaviour could be addressed, if necessary. What has happened to this Bill? It seems to have simply got lost.

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