PROPOSALS FOR a referendum to reduce judges’ pay in line with public servants at a similar level will be brought to Cabinet within two weeks, the Minister for Justice has said.
Speaking at the publication of a report on the solicitors’ profession last night, Alan Shatter said he hoped a referendum on the matter would then take place sooner rather than later.
Mr Shatter stressed the crucial importance of respecting the independence of the judiciary and said the proposal would only impact on judicial salaries to the same extent as people at the same level in the public service. There was no question of reducing judicial salaries on the basis of objecting to decisions taken by any member of the judiciary, he said. It was crucial to preserve respect for the judiciary and not allow the idea to develop that it was an elite, immune from what was affecting the rest of society.
The proposals would enable the judiciary to play its role in dealing with the difficulties facing the country at the moment.
The proposal was made by Mr Shatter when in opposition, and arose from the decision of the last government to exempt the judiciary from the pension levy imposed on public servants, on the advice of the attorney general.
This derives from the constitutional provision that the remuneration of members of the judiciary could not be reduced, reflecting the need to protect the judiciary from governmental pressure relating to their decisions.
Last week the Chief Justice told The Irish Timesthe judiciary had no objection to such a referendum and had never expressed any view on it.
Mr Justice John Murray stressed that the protection against cuts in remuneration was there to protect the people and not at the request of the judiciary.