Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)

I second the amendment to the Order of Business by Senator Diarmuid Wilson. I ask the Deputy Leader if she can ascertain from the Minister for Justice and Equality what has happened to the much talked about appointment of a military judge. In a debate last July, I was told I was delaying the process and that if it was not sorted out within a number of weeks, the entire military system of justice would come crashing down. The former Minister for Defence, Tony Killeen, was condemned for not acting swiftly before he left office almost 18 months ago. Senator Wilson talked about the closure of the Cavan and Clonmel barracks and during those heated debates I questioned whether there was a necessity for a military judge. A military judge must be at least Circuit Court status and I see the cost per year at €500,000. We have an army that is diminishing year by year and perhaps an ordinary Circuit Court judge could be seconded for two or three weeks to do the necessary work. My understanding is that a couple of weeks work covers it. In a similar vein, the admiralty division of the High Court is dealt with by an ordinary High Court judge. Admiralty issues are rare and military court-martial and complaints are as scarce as teeth in a duck. The Government should reflect on the cost, leaving out the political appointment. It will cost the State €500,000 a year to do work that a Circuit Court judge could do if seconded for one week each quarter. Has the appointment been proceeded with, what are the costs and is it really necessary, having regard to the fact that the €500,000 could be spent on the retention of the Cavan barracks in these dire economic times?