Michael McDowell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 97ca:

In page 33, between lines 20 and 21, to insert the following:

“51. (1) The Minister may, in respect of any vacancy in the District Court, the Circuit Court and the High Court, at the time of making a request to the Commission in accordance with section 40, direct the Commission to have regard to a specified class of business in a court to which it is reasonably anticipated that an appointee to a particular vacancy would deal with.(2) The Commission shall have regard to any direction made by the Minister under this section in discharging its functions in respect of any appointment in respect of which the direction applies.

(3) The Minister may from time to time consult with the Presidents of the Court of Appeal, the High Court, the Circuit Court and the District Court in relation to the making of directions under this section.

(4) Where more than one vacancy is to be considered by the Commission in accordance with section 41, the Minister’s direction under this section may apply to one or more of such vacancies as the Minister may direct.”.

This amendment is to insert a new section before section 51 on page 33, between lines 20 and 21. The text of the proposed amendment is as follows:

(1) The Minister may, in respect of any vacancy in the District Court, the Circuit Court and the High Court, at the time of making a request to the Commission in accordance with section 40, direct the Commission to have regard to a specified class of business in a court to which it is reasonably anticipated that an appointee to a particular vacancy would deal with.