Government Decision On Judicial Pay Referendum Welcomed

Following yesterday’s Cabinet meeting, the Minster for Justice, Equality and Defence has welcomed the Government decision on the Judicial Pay Referendum.

Alan Shatter said: "I welcome the decision made today by Cabinet agreeing to my proposal that the Referendum on Judicial pay be held to coincide with the upcoming Presidential election. "This is a major decision taken by Cabinet following on from the substantial work I have been engaged in on this issue since my appointment. Further work will now be undertaken by the Attorney General who has confirmed that the necessary work can be processed in the timeframe agreed."

Salaries across the public service were reduced in accordance with the provisions of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2009 and the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Act 2009. Although a majority of the judiciary voluntarily contributed sums equivalent to the pension levy, under Article 35.3 of our Constitution, Judicial salaries were exempted from these reductions.

The Referend3um to amend Article 35.5 of the Constitution, if passed, will result in salary reductions impacting on judicial salaries to the same extent as others on similar salary levels in the public service. It will also provide for reductions in the pay of judges in accordance to any future reductions in pay in the public service that are made in the public interest.

Minister Shatter said: "There can be no question, no doubt, that the independence of the judiciary is the cornerstone of our constitutional democracy but it is important that the judiciary is seen by the rest of the community to be playing its part in recognising the economic difficulties of this State and the particular difficulties that are attached to the public finances.

"In no sense should the general public believe that the judiciary are an elite or are immune from the economic cataclysm that has hit this country. The Amendment will not allow the judiciary alone to be singled out or targeted for any pay reduction that is unrelated to any reduction in pay in the public service generally and so will not impact on the independence of the judiciary."

(BMcN/GK)