Fianna Fáil bill on judges blocked by Government ‘stroke’

The Government has blocked a Fianna Fáil private members bill on judicial appointments, leading to angry exchanges at the Oireachtas Justice Committee.

Opposition TDs, including Fianna Fail Justice spokesman Jim O'Callaghan who sponsored the bill, were severely critical of the Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald who was present to represent the Government.

The Government decided that since the private members bill, which would have reformed the system of appointing judges, involved a potential charge on the exchequer, it could not proceed.

The Taoiseach declined to supply what is known as a “money message” - meaning that any charge on the exchequer is not significant - and so the bill could not proceed.

Opposition TDs, who only learned of the manoeuvre Wenesday morning, were scathing in their criticisms of the Government and of the Minister.

Jim O’Callaghan pointed out that this was the first time that the Government had suggested that there could be any significant charge on the exchequer resulting from the bill. He said that the Government had tried a number of times to get him to withdraw his bill in favour of a Government bill that has been promoted by the Minister for Transport Shane Ross.

Yesterday, Mr Ross agreed to let a number of judges be appointed in return for a commitment from Fine Gael and Ms Fitzgerald to accelerate the progress of the Government bill, which he supports.

“The sole reason the Government is invoking this is not because the bill involves a charge but to solve a political problem,” Mr O’Callaghan told the committee.

“This is a stroke by the Government,” he said.

Independents for Change TD Clare Daly said that she had spent “half the night” preparing amendments to the bill. “It’s an outrageous bureaucratic manoeuvre,” she said.

“The whole process has been thrown out the window to keep Shane Ross in government,” said Mick Wallace.

Sinn Féin TD Jonathan O’Brien said it was “a very cowardly thing to do.”

Replying, Ms Fitzgerald said that the two bills - Mr O’Callaghan’s and the Government’s - could be taken together.

Ms Fitzgerald is expected to publish the general scheme of a Bill on judicial appointments next week following negotiations with Mr Ross.