Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 91: To ask the Minister for Finance if cuts to public pensions announced in budget 2011 will also apply to judicial pensions; his plans to review the legislation on the remuneration of serving judges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1811/11]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2010 gave statutory effect to the public service pension reduction announced in the National Recovery Plan 2011-2014 and Budget 2011. It is a tapered measure which makes a greater reduction from those with more substantial public service pensions. The measure will play an important part in the task of bringing Ireland's public finances under control and in bringing the public finance deficit into line with agreed targets. I can confirm that retired judges are subject to the public service pension reduction.

I am advised that the Constitution precludes a reduction in remuneration for serving members of the judiciary. As a consequence, serving members of the judiciary were exempted from the application of the pension-related deduction and pay reduction legislation applied to public servants under the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Acts 2009 and I have no proposals to reduce their pay rates. I intend to bring proposals to the Oireachtas shortly to reduce the pay rates that will apply to future members of the judiciary.