THE Minister for Justice received Government approval yesterday for the new Judicial Appointments Board to be asked for its recommendations for the appointment of additional judges.
The Minister would not say how long it would take for the board to nominate people to fill the three Supreme Court, two, High Court, seven Circuit Court and three District Court posts created under the Court and Court Officers Act, passed by the Dail last year.
The nominating board is made up of the Chief Justice, "Mr Justice Hamilton, the President of the High Court, Mr Justice Costello, the President of the Circuit Court, Mr Justice Spain, the President of the District Court, Judge Peter Smithwick, the Attorney General, Mr Dermot Gleeson, the chairwoman of the Irish Association of Victim Support, Ms Jennifer Guinness, the chairwoman of the labour Court, Ms Evelyn Owens, and the chairman of Equity Bank, Mr John McGilligan.