Appointments to the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal and to the High Court
From Department of the Taoiseach
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of the Taoiseach
Published on
Last updated on
At its meeting today, the Government nominated The Hon. Justice Mary Finlay Geoghegan for appointment by the President to the Supreme Court and nominated David Barniville SC for appointment by the President to the High Court.
There are three vacancies in the Supreme Court arising from the untimely death of Justice Adrian Hardiman in March 2016 and the retirements of Justice Mary Laffoy in June 2017 and Justice Susan Denham in July 2017.
In addition, the Government agreed in principle to nominate The Hon. Justice Paul Gilligan for appointment by the President to the Court of Appeal, once a vacancy arises in that Court following the elevation of The Hon. Justice Justice Mary Finlay Geoghegan to the Supreme Court.
The vacancy in the High Court arose from the retirement of Justice Margaret Heneghan on 2 October 2017.
The Government has taken the necessary steps to formally advise President Higgins of the nominations in accordance with constitutional procedure.
The Government also agreed in principle to nominate Michael MacGrath SC for appointment by the President to the High Court to fill the vacancy that will arise with the retirement of Justice Henry Abbott on 18 December 2017.
Under section 17 of the Courts and Court Officers Act 1995 (as amended by the Court of Appeal Act 2014), procedures in respect of the Judicial Appointments Advisory Board do not apply in respect of judicial appointments where a sitting judge is nominated for appointment.
The nominations for appointment to the High Court follow the receipt of a list of suitable candidates from the Judicial Appointments Advisory Board.
The Hon. Justice Mary Finlay Geoghegan
The Hon. Justice Paul Gilligan
David Barniville, SC
Michael MacGrath, SC