No guarantee judges Bill will pass by summer - Varadkar

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has told Ministers he cannot guarantee that controversial judicial appointments legislation will be enacted by the Dáil summer recess.

Mr Varadkar told Cabinet yesterday that the Government would seek to pass the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill in the coming weeks, but acknowledged a commitment made to Minister for Transport Shane Ross may not be met.

The Government is pressing ahead with the Bill despite the opposition of the most senior judges in the State, in accordance with an agreement between Fine Gael and Mr Ross.

However, the Government is dependent on support from the Opposition in both the Dáil and Seanad for the legislation to pass.

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Mr Ross did not make any public comment on the ongoing controversy yesterday, but sources say he is eager for the commitment to him that the legislation be passed by the summer recess to be upheld.

The Bill, which reforms the way that judges are appointed and which has long been championed by Mr Ross, began its process through the Dáil on Tuesday night.

Debates will continue on Wednesday morning and Thursday in the Dáil, before it moves to the committee stage.

Last night, Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan indicated he would change the legislation to include the presidents of the Circuit Court and the District Court when the new board is considering appointments to those courts. The move signals a more accommodating stance on the Government's behalf towards changes to the controversial Bill.

Guillotine

Mr Varadkar told the Cabinet meeting he would not rush the debate on the Bill, and would not guillotine any discussion in the Dáil.

One Minister told The Irish Times the Taoiseach had made it clear the Government did not have enough votes to rush the legislation through.

“We will do everything we can. It is our intention to have it passed, but we do not have the numbers to guillotine it to suit Shane Ross,” the Minister said.

Mr Varadkar also told the Cabinet this must been seen as a Government Bill and not Mr Ross’s legislation.

He asked Mr Flanagan to ensure all Fine Gael TDs supported the Bill when it is voted on in the Dáil. It is understood Mr Varadkar made the remarks after Mr Flanagan explained a text message he sent to some TDs criticising Mr Ross and asking Deputies to speak out on the Bill.

Mr Flanagan told the meeting there are a wide range of positions on the Bill, and he was asking people to make their views known during the Dáil debates.

Sources said the Taoiseach made it clear that while people could express their views, Government TDs must support the Bill.