Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 424: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reasons for the delay in appointing a judge to the bench of the eastern circuit where a vacancy has existed for over 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23818/06]

Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 425: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason for the delay in appointing a judge to the bench of the northern circuit where a vacancy has existed for over six months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23819/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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Where a vacancy exists in a Circuit for a permanent judge the President of the Circuit Court assigns a judge to the Circuit on a temporary basis. This is the position at present in the Eastern and Northern Circuits.

The permanent assignment of a Judge to a particular Circuit is a matter for Government. It is open to serving Circuit Court Judges to seek assignment or transfer to a vacant circuit and expressions of interest have been received by me from a number of judges in relation to these vacancies.

The Government will shortly be giving consideration to the matter of the assignments in question.