Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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112. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if her attention has been drawn to the fact that in other countries, experience as an academic lawyer or an in house lawyer qualifies people for appointment to judicial appointments; her views on whether a similar provision should be introduced here; if so, if she will she bring legislation forward to introduce such a change; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45678/14]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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Under the Constitution, judges are appointed by the President on the advice of the Government. The current process for the appointment of judges in Ireland is set out in the Courts and Courts Officers Act 1995 as amended which established the Judicial Appointments Advisory Board and set out the basic requirements for eligibility for judicial appointment. Applicants wishing to be considered for judicial appointment can submit written applications to the Board providing information on their education, professional qualifications, experience and character. Amendments to the Act in 2002 rendered practising solicitors eligible for appointment to all courts and as a consequence both solicitors and barristers in legal practice for a designated number of years are eligible for appointment to each of the courts from the District Court up to and including the Supreme Court.

The Minister for Justice and Equality announced a consultation process on the system of judicial appointments in December 2013. Submissions were invited to address issues such as

- eligibility for appointment;

- the need to ensure and protect the principle of judicial independence;

- promoting equality and diversity;

- the role of the Judicial Appointments Advisory Board, including its membership and its procedures.