Judges' pay referendum to take place in October

A REFERENDUM on reducing the pay of serving judges will be held in October on the same day as the presidential election, Minister for Justice Alan Shatter confirmed yesterday.

Mr Shatter said the independence of the judiciary from government was a cornerstone of Irish democracy and would be maintained, but 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, Mr Shatter added.

Mr Shatter said if the referendum was passed wage deductions could not apply retrospectively, but would apply “prospectively from the date when the referendum occurs and hopefully if there’s a majority ‘Yes’ vote”.

Following the introduction of the pension levy, special arrangements under Section 161 of the Finance Act 2010 allow judges to voluntarily contribute an equivalent sum to the Revenue Commissioners. Some 14 per cent of judges are believed not to have participated. Payments amounting to €1.254 million were received from 126 judges.

Mr Shatter said Cabinet yesterday approved giving a specific proposal on the referendum to the Attorney General, following “substantial groundwork” carried out by his department.

Two other referendums may take place on the same day, he said. These will focus on giving Oireachtas committees the power to make findings of fact and on protection for whistleblowers.

Meanwhile, newly nominated judges will have their salaries reduced as part of Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Brendan Howlin’s senior public sector pay review plans. The subject was on yesterday’s Cabinet agenda, but was not discussed fully. Mr Howlin wants to put a €250,000 cap on salaries paid to chief executives of semi-State companies. This will apply to new entrants, while incumbents will be asked to take a voluntary cut in wages. A suggested salary ceiling of €200,000 for senior public servants is being proposed.