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THE TAOISEACH has made it very clear that the Government is not going to put any pressure on the judiciary to cut their salaries or benefits to correspond with the sacrifices being made by other citizens, public servants in particular, writes CAROL COULTER.

Replying to a Dáil suggestion from Fine Gael’s Alan Shatter that they should voluntarily reduce their salaries by an amount equivalent to the pension levy, Brian Cowen said: “We need to recognise the constitutional position and not say or do or indicate anything that would in any way interfere with the independence in the role and functions of those important public servants in the judiciary who serve us so well.”