Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 610: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of representations he has received in relation to judicial appointments to the District, Circuit, High and Supreme Court each year since 1995 to date in 2009; the number of persons about whom a representation was made or received who was subsequently appointed to the judiciary; the court to which they were appointed; and the year of their appointment. [30481/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Since 1995, Governments have been advised on the suitability of candidates for judicial office by the Judicial Appointments Advisory Board (JAAB) which was established for that purpose under the provisions of the Court and Court Officers Act 1995. The Board consists of the Chief Justice, the President of the High Court, the President of the Circuit Court, the President of the District Court, the Attorney General, a practising barrister nominated by the Bar Council, a practising solicitor nominated by the Law Society and not more than 3 persons nominated by the Minister.

Section 17 of the 1995 Act specifies that serving judges are not subject to the JAAB procedure. Except in the case of serving judges, all candidates are considered by the Board. It should be noted that the Board publishes an annual report on the number of vacancies considered and lists the names of the persons who have been appointed to judicial office following recommendations by the Board.

Since 1995 a total of 151 persons have been nominated by Government for appointment by the President. Records of representations received are only readily available since 1997. Since then, a total of 42 representations have been received by the Minister of the day on behalf of persons who wish to be nominated to the judiciary. In total since 1997, 4 persons on behalf of whom representations were made were nominated for appointment following recommendation by the Board. Details are set out in the tables below.

Judicial Appointments 1995 - 2009

Supreme Court

High Court

Circuit Court

District Court

* The information requested for 1995 and 1996 by the Deputy is not readily available and could only be obtained by the expenditure of a disproportionate amount of staff time and resources.