The Government has nominated Mr Justice John Murray for appointment as Chief Justice. The nomination will now go to the President, who, under the Constitution, makes the appointment.
Mr Murray has served on the Supreme Court since 1999. He was previously a judge of the European Court of Justice in Brussels. Before that he served as Attorney General in two Fianna Fáil-led governments.
His first stint followed the dramatic resignation of then Attorney General Patrick Connolly, when murderer, Malcolm McArthur, was arrested in his flat while Connolly was on holiday.
His second was marked by often fraught relations with the then British government over the issue of extradition. He refused to extradite former priest, Patrick Ryan, sought on IRA charges, because he considered he would not get a fair trial in the light of statements made about him in the British media and the House of Commons.
Mr Justice Murray was born in Limerick in 1943. He was educated at Crescent College, Limerick, Rockwell College, Co Tipperary, UCD and the King's Inns. He is married to Gabrielle Walsh, daughter of the late Brian Walsh, also a judge of the Supreme Court. They have two children, Catriona and Brian.
Mr Murray posed for photographs and remarked that he had received the nomination from the Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell, at lunchtime. "The Taoiseach was abroad," he explained.
His appointment was welcomed yesterday by the Courts Service, the Law Society, the Bar Council and the Green Party. Mr P.J. Fitzpatrick, chief executive of the Courts Service, said: "I warmly welcome the appointment of Mr Justice Murray. He has been a very active member of the board of the Courts Service, on which he has served for some time."
The president of the Law Society, Mr Gerald Griffin, congratulated Mr Justice Murray on his own behalf and that of almost 9,000 solicitors. "He is very well qualified to lead the judiciary and the justice system as a whole through the challenging times ahead," he said.
Mr Conor Maguire SC, chairman of the Bar Council, said: "His experience is second to none. He had an extensive practice both as a junior and senior counsel. Then he was Attorney General. That experience was expanded as a member of the European Court of Justice, and then on the bench of the Supreme Court."
Green Party leader Mr Trevor Sargent said Mr Justice Murray would "bring a great sense of balance to the Supreme Court. At a time when Europe is becoming much more important in terms of domestic policy, his experience, influence and guiding hand will be certainly welcome and necessary."