Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In section 15 I am providing for expressions of interest in an assignment as principal judge of the family High Court to be made to the president of the High Court by either existing ordinary judges of the High Court and-or from persons who are to be appointed to the High Court.

While the published Bill provides, at section 16(4) for such persons to express an interest to the president of the High Court for assignment as a judge of the family High Court, there are no specific provisions for expressions of interest to be assigned as the principal judge of the family division of the High Court jurisdiction included. I am of the view that there should be a distinct process for assignment as principal judge given the additional statutory functions that a principal judge of the family High Court will have over and above those of other judges of the family High Court.

In addition, and modelled on a similar provision in the Judicial Appointments Commission Act, provision is being made for an expression of interest to be forwarded, by the person interested, only to the president of the court and not to any other person. There is also a similar amendment in respect of assignment of the judge of the family High Court. It stipulates by whom and to whom an expression of interest in an assignment as a judge to the family High Court should be made. This provision for an expression of interest in assignment as a judge of the family High Court to be made only to the president of the court and not to any other person. This provision is aimed at ensuring that those judges with a genuine interest in an assignment to the family High Court engage directly with the president of the Court in expressing interest in that assignment, and do not do so through a third party. There were similar amendments proposed in respect of assignment as principal judge and judge to the family Circuit Court and to the family District Court.