Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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431. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he has examined the reason for the delay in the judicial council Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53813/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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As I have previously conveyed to the House, the Programme for Government undertakes to “legislate to establish a Judicial Council, with lay representation, to provide an effective mechanism for dealing with complaints against judges" and this commitment is being pursued in the proposed Judicial Council Bill. As well as providing for the establishment of a Judicial Council and Board that will promote excellence and high standards of conduct by judges, the proposed Bill is aimed at providing a means of investigating allegations of judicial misconduct supported by the establishment of a Judicial Conduct Committee which will have lay representation. An Interim Judicial Council has been established by the judiciary pending enactment of the Bill.

Having considered the draft Judicial Council Bill in light of the considered views of the judiciary and in relation to current Government policy, I am happy to confirm that work on the drafting of the new Bill continues in conjunction with the Offices of the Attorney General and of Parliamentary Counsel. While it had been hoped to publish the Bill this year, in light of the Government’s heavy legislative programme which has included meeting our competing priorities under the EU/IMF/ECB Troika Programme, I would now expect this to take place early in 2014.