Sir, - The current discussion on the reform of court procedures and judicial conduct is much to be welcomed. Accountability is as much a necessity here as in any other part of public life. The Constitution recognises the proper role of the Dail in this, and it is reflected in the Dail's power of impeachment.
However, all of the discussion seems to leave one fundamental area untouched - the appointment of judges. The Constitution requires that judges should be independent. This cannot be achieved with the present system. If judges owe their appointment to politicians, they remain, despite whatever good intentions they may have, obliged to those politicians. Equally on the part of politicians, the temptation to call in a "favour" owed, in time of need, must be very considerable.
The Judicial Advisory Board might seem to be a step in the right direction. However, as this board is itself politically appointed, it leaves the whole process where it was: subject to the influence of a current government.
In a submission to the Constitution Review Group, Muintir na hEireann recommended that the appointment of judges should be taken out of the legislative area entirely. We proposed a system similar to that employed in France, whereby prospective judges receive training in a school for that purpose, and appointments are made on merit. This system works successfully, and while not without its own flaws, removes appointments from the political arena.
It is interesting that neither the Dail nor the media seem anxious to get into too much discussion on this vital aspect. Perhaps they both would have too much to lose by a more independent system? - Yours, etc., Cllr Richard Greene,
Roebuck Road, Dublin 11.