Breeda Moynihan-Cronin (Kerry South, Labour)
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Question 51: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when the Judicial Council Bill is expected to be published; the consultation he has had with members of the judiciary regarding the contents of the Bill; if he is concerned, in view of a recent case, that there is still no procedure for dealing with breaches of conduct by judges apart from the impeachment process provided for under the Constitution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6833/07]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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As I indicated in my reply to a similar Question (No. 16) on 7 December last, work on the Scheme of the Judicial Council Bill is at an advanced stage of development in my Department. I expect to be in a position to bring it to Government for approval in the reasonably near future. The Bill will build on the Report of the Committee on Judicial Conduct and Ethics chaired by the former Chief Justice Ronan Keane. That Report recognised the need for a procedure for dealing with complaints of judicial misconduct which, while serious in itself, might not warrant the ultimate sanction of impeachment by the Oireachtas.

Consultations on the proposed Bill have, as is usual in the development of any legislative proposals, taken place with the Office of the Attorney General. I have also considered it prudent, given the nature of the subject, to seek the observations of the Chief Justice. I await those observations.

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.