A ROW HAS escalated between the Minister for Justice Alan Shatter and the Irish judiciary after judges said they were concerned their independence was being undermined by government interference.
Justice Peter Kelly, backed by the the Association of Judges of Ireland, said the coalition was demolishing the judiciary “brick by brick”.
As evidence, cuts to pay and pensions, new pension arrangements for future judges, the implementation of the personal insolvency act without any notice, the appointment of county registrars as specialist judges and the establishment of new courts as evidence were all cited.
However, Minister Shatter criticised Justice Kelly and said the government will never interfere “with the inviolable constitutional duty of the judiciary”.
Today we want to know: Do you think judicial independence is being undermined by the government?
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