Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 155: To ask the Minister for Justice and Law Reform if he regards it as appropriate that solicitors appointed District Court judges, immediately or a short time after their judicial appointment, be appointed to or preside over a District Court in the local town or area in which prior to their appointment they practised as a solicitor; if a determination as to the location in which they should initially preside as a judge is determined by the Minister, the Courts Services or the President of the District Court; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43089/10]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The law in relation to assignment of District Court judges is provided for in the Courts Acts. Permanent assignments of District Court judges are made by the Government following consultation with the judge concerned and the President of the District Court. Temporary assignment of judges to a District other than their permanent assignment may be made by the President of the District Court with the judge's consent. In addition, the President of the District Court may temporarily assign 'moveable' District Court judges to any District as the need arises.

Since a majority of the serving District Court judges were solicitors prior to their appointment, it is not always possible to make assignments to a District other than that in which they were formerly based.