Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Bill but we need much more. I salute the Minister, Deputy Ross, for what he is trying to do in government. I saw the resistance when I looked for a declaration of interests from judicial appointments. All Members must make one. What is so precious about judges? Are they an endangered species? Mention was made of the new Court of Appeal and all the cases it has heard. The establishment of that court was forced through this House with no accountability as to how many cases it would hear, when it would do so or the costs involved. There is no justice for ordinary people because they cannot afford it.

The barristers are not jumping up and down to change that any time soon, and neither are the solicitors. There are many good solicitors and barristers but their rates are exorbitant and prohibitive. Justice over-charged for is justice denied. We have heard of judges who do not declare, will not declare and are untouchable. They retain their positions for life, with no requirement to take refresher courses, which I have looked for in the past. Numerous times in the past I have raised in this House with Fine Gael the matter of a judicial council Bill, as did the Minister, Deputy Ross, and many others. It is supposedly a commitment in the programme for Government. When will it be published? It appears to me to be very far down the line. We need the political appointment of judges removed from politics. While models elsewhere, including Spain, are working well, the model here is not functioning.

See this speech in context