Results 3,621-3,640 of 15,389 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Judicial Appointments Process: Statements (26 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: I am aware of this non-statutory advisory group. I am also aware that this group was established specifically for the sole purpose of appointments of Chief Justice and presidents of courts, not for actual judges, so this did not apply in this regard.

Judicial Appointments Process: Statements (26 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: In making that decision I looked at all of the names myself. Before sending a name to Cabinet, I made my recommendation to the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste, the Minister, Deputy Ryan, and to the Attorney General. Having had those conversations, I then made a recommendation to Cabinet.

Judicial Appointments Process: Statements (26 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: First, I did not discuss this with the now Supreme Court judge, Mr. Justice Woulfe. I did not discuss this with my former colleague, Deputy Flanagan. I have said that I did have an informal conversation with my colleague and Tánaiste who informed me that Séamus Woulfe had come through the process and that in his view he would make a good judge. He did not tell me that this was to...

Judicial Appointments Process: Statements (26 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Ceann Comhairle has outlined that I cannot get into criteria and I will not get into criteria. This is my job. There are still names of persons who applied for that position sitting on file in my Department. There is still a vacancy and if that vacancy is to be filled, they will be again looked at. It is not for me to get into criteria. There is no specific criteria for me. I do not...

Judicial Appointments Process: Statements (26 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: What I have said is that for me to make that decision and to engage with my colleagues, there is no criteria. However, through the JAAB there are very clear criteria. Where it makes a recommendation, it has to show that the individual has displayed in his or her practice as a barrister or solicitor a degree of competence and a degree of probity appropriate to, and consistent with, the...

Judicial Appointments Process: Statements (26 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: All I can say to that is the system is what the system is. I said in my statement that it is not perfect and that we all agree that it needs to be reformed but I cannot change the fact that this is the current process. We receive recommendations from the JAAB, expressions of interest from the sitting Judiciary and then there is a list of those who are eligible. It is then incumbent on the...

Judicial Appointments Process: Statements (26 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: It is not deemed appropriate in this instance. The names of members of the Judiciary are still sitting on a list in my office and if I am ever asked to fill this next vacant position, they will be put forward for that as well.

Judicial Appointments Process: Statements (26 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: I have already said that I did not. I made one recommendation to the Taoiseach, as is my job to do as Minister for Justice.

Judicial Appointments Process: Statements (26 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: At that stage, I had not received the other list. Of course, I took that on board but having then looked at the other names, I made a recommendation based on who I felt was the best person for the job.

Judicial Appointments Process: Statements (26 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Tánaiste has already said that he was not but I cannot answer for him other than what he has said.

Judicial Appointments Process: Statements (26 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: I want to clarify this issue because a number of Members have mentioned it. I have never referred to how many names there were. There were five expressions of interest. It it not good practice to start talking about how many names there were but in the interests of clarity I wish to be very clear. There were five expressions of interest, plus the recommendation through the JAAB. I...

Judicial Appointments Process: Statements (26 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: I have already said that but I have also said, not just in this House but elsewhere, that I have never put forward a name to Cabinet without the full agreement of the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste, the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan and the Attorney General, and this instance is no different. There were no questions and no concerns were raised. In other instances where I have proposed names,...

Judicial Appointments Process: Statements (26 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: It has been made clear that I did not. It is also clear that it has been a long-standing practice for there to be other names and that other judges put their names forward through expressions of interest. Having heard from former Ministers for Justice, it is also clear that it is not always the practice for the Minister to inform the Taoiseach or the Tánaiste of other names. The...

Judicial Appointments Process: Statements (26 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: The memorandum that goes to Cabinet does not include any names. It just states that a name is coming to Cabinet. The Deputy will be aware that I cannot talk about anything that is discussed with Cabinet colleagues inside Cabinet.

Judicial Appointments Process: Statements (26 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Ceann Comhairle has been very clear that it is not appropriate for me to discuss criteria here. I have already explained that there is no list or boxes that I am given to tick. The Deputy is suggesting that this was a huge decision to make. Upon being appointed Minister for Justice, one immediately has a number of huge decisions to make. I take my role and my job as Minister for...

Judicial Appointments Process: Statements (26 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: I have just outlined that there were five expressions of interest. One name came through JAAB and there was a lengthy list of suitable judges but those people had not expressed an interest in this role.

Judicial Appointments Process: Statements (26 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: I looked at all the names that were put before me. One was from the JAAB and there were five expressions of interest. I am saying that in the interests of clarity. It is not practice to give the number of expressions of interest. There was also a long list of eligible sitting judges from all the courts, who have not expressed an interest. That list changes and I do not have the exact...

Judicial Appointments Process: Statements (26 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: When I came into the Department on 28 June, I received my briefings, which stated that there was a vacancy and that the Chief Justice had asked for it to be filled immediately. I said in my statement that because lists had been reduced in the Supreme Court, there was a tradition that not all of those positions would be filled. When this one needed to be filled, which was before I came into...

Judicial Appointments Process: Statements (26 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: It is a legal requirement that in filling the position of a judge, that one does look at the JAAB list first. The opposite is the case when looking to fill the president of a court or the post of Chief Justice. One has a legal obligation to look at the sitting judge list or the expressions of interest list first. That is what is in the legislation and that is what I adhered to in this...

Judicial Appointments Process: Statements (26 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: On 16 June last year, a vacancy arose;on 4 February, the Chief Justice wrote to the Minister; on 17 February, there was a letter to the JAAB to try to fill that; on 18 February, the Minister responded to the Chief Justice's letter of 4 February indicating the issue to the JAAB to request a list; and on 25 February, the Chief Justice replied to the letter of 18 February indicating the JAAB...