Judicial tensions flare up again

The Cabinet agreed another judicial appointment at its weekly meeting yesterday.

This time it was the promotion of Mr Justice George Birmingham to become president of the Court of Appeal. Mr Birmingham is a former Fine Gael TD and a former Minister of State.

His elevation brings the number of judicial appointments to 34 since this Government was formed.

This is despite the protests of Minister for Transport Shane Ross and the Independent Alliance. Mr Ross has repeatedly threatened to block the appointment of judges until the Judicial Appointments Bill has passed through the Houses of the Oireachtas.

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George Birmingham named president of Court of Appeal

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At one point, Mr Ross warned he would walk away from Government unless he had a firm commitment that the Bill would pass within a manner of months.

Now the Bill is delayed further due to the tabling of 50 amendments by the Government, and its passage is not guaranteed in the Dáil.

The dispute over appointments comes to a head quite often. The row yesterday was a little tenser than normal, with some claiming Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan threatened to resign in protest at the interference of Mr Ross in his Department.

Mr Ross also told his Independent Alliance colleagues he would not allow one more judicial appointment through - but then again we have heard that before.

As for the Judicial Appointments Bill, its fate lies in the hands of Sinn Féin. The party’s justice spokesman, Donnchadh O’Laoghaire, has confirmed its support cannot be relied on for the Bill unless it sees tangible evidence the Government will introduce sentencing guidelines.

Times are tough for Mr Ross. He is fighting over judges again. The Independent Alliance could be losing a member.

And it seems Fine Gael Ministers spent their meeting yesterday discussing the Minister for Transport. He was criticised for failing to notify members of the Cabinet about his activities in the Department - but more importantly about issues within their own constituencies.

FG men4repeal push for Yes

Male members of the Fine Gael party will begin canvassing for a Yes vote in the forthcoming referendum this morning.

Three senior Ministers will meet early morning commuters in Dublin to encourage them to vote Yes.

This is part of an effort by the Together for Yes side to appeal to male voters. It began with a number of sports and television stars on Monday and will continue throughout the week.

Focus groups for the Yes side say males in the 20-35 category are proving to be their most reluctant supporters.

Meanwhile, the issue moved back into the political forum yesterday. Fianna Fáil TD Mary Butler proposed gathering those within the party opposed to the referendum for a photocall.

Elsewhere Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald faced a barrage of questions from the media on the position of Peadar Toibin within the party.

The result of the referendum will be known in just over four weeks time but the scars within individual parties will remain for quite some time.