Three referendums for one day

Three referendums are likely to be held on the same day as the presidential election in October, Minister for Justice Alan Shatter has said.

Following a Cabinet decision yesterday the Government has given a commitment to hold a referendum on reducing the pay of serving judges on the same day as the presidential election.

However, speaking this morning, Mr Shatter said it is “likely” that two other referendums - one extending greater powers to Oireachtas committees to conduct inquiries, arising out of the Abbeylara judgement, and the other on protection for whistleblowers - will be held on the same day in October.

Mr Shatter said establishing a referendum commission to advise on individual referendums falls within the remit of Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan and will be addressed “well in advance” of the votes in October.

The decision to hold a judicial pay referendum was signed off at Cabinet yesterday. Afterward Mr Shatter said the independence of the judiciary from Government was a cornerstone of Irish democracy and would be maintained. But he said a mechanism had to allow the State apply salary deductions to judges’ salaries at a time of economic difficulty.

“I think it’s very important that the judiciary aren’t perceived to be an elite, immune from the economic difficulties suffered presently by the State, and that the same salary deductions apply to the judiciary as it applied across the board in the public service,” he said.

The Government wants to reduce the pay of serving judges in line with other public servants. A referendum is required because the issue of serving judges’ pay is protected by the Constitution.

The Chief Justice is currently paid €295,916, the president of the High Court €274,779 and Supreme Court judges €257,872. The president of the Circuit Court receives €249,418, High Court judges €243,080 and the president of the District Court €183,894. Circuit Court judges are paid €177,554 and District Court judges €147,961.

Mr Shatter said he did not anticipate any negative reaction from the judiciary to the proposal. Recent remarks by the Chief Justice Mr Justice John Murray that the judiciary had never expressed any objection to such a referendum were to be welcomed, the minister added.