Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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503. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he is considering amending current legislation in order that a member of the judiciary is elevated from a lower court to a higher court, that the Judicial Appointments Advisory Board is consulted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35986/13]

Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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557. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he is considering a recommendation from the 2012 Annual Report of the Judicial Appointments Advisory Board, following on from their 2002 point that persons appointment to the judiciary should undergo a medicinal examination; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36401/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 503 and 557 together.

The Deputy will be aware that under the Irish Constitution judges are appointed by the President on the advice of the Government. Such appointments are dealt with by the Judicial Appointments Advisory Board which was established pursuant to the Courts and Court Officers Act 1995. Section 17 of the same Act provides that these procedures shall not apply where the Government propose to advise the President to appoint a serving judge. A review of the current appointment procedure is ongoing and these matter are under consideration in that context. Any proposal to revise the current system of judicial appointments would involve amendment of the legislation and would, of course, be a matter for consideration by Government in due course.