Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 15: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his proposals for judicial conduct and ethics; and when these will be in operation. [21321/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Judicial Council Bill, the scheme of which is in development in my Department, will establish a judicial council with responsibility for a number of matters. Among these will be the devising of a code of ethics and the management of a process, to be set out in the Bill, for the investigation of complaints about judicial misbehaviour. An important feature of the disciplinary process will be provisions requiring lay participation, that is to say people who are not judges or lawyers, in that process. Other matters to be included in the council's functions will be responsibility for judicial education and training and the exchange of information among judges on such matters as sentencing. In these regards, the Bill will build on the Report of the Committee on Judicial Conduct and Ethics chaired by the former Chief Justice Ronan Keane.

The preparation of the scheme of the Bill is at an advanced stage. I am engaged in a number of necessary consultations on the draft scheme at present and I expect to be in a position shortly to bring the scheme to Government for approval. It is my intention that when the scheme of the Bill has been approved by Government, I will make it available to the Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights. Any views that may emerge from the joint committee can be taken into account during the drafting of the Bill, which will be proceeding at the same time.