Retired Judge To Head Pay Referendum

A retired judge will head a commission on the upcoming referendum on cutting the pay of the judiciary.

Retired High Court judge Bryan McMahon will chair a delegation which will provide and publish an explanation of proposals on judges' remuneration.

The electorate will vote on the constitutional change on Thursday, October 27 - the same day as the presidential election.

The commission will be responsible for explaining the purpose of the referendum to the public, and for summarising arguments for and against the amendment.

The Government is proposing that Article 35.5 of the Constitution be amended by substituting the following: "35.5.1 The remuneration of judges shall not be reduced during their continuance in office save in accordance with this section. 35.5.2 The remuneration of judges is subject to the imposition of taxes, levies or other charges that are imposed by law on persons generally or persons belonging to a particular class.

"35.5.3 Where, before or after the enactment into law of this section, reductions have been or are made by law to the remuneration of persons belonging to classes of persons whose remuneration is paid out of public money and such law states that those reductions are in the public interest, provision may also be made by law to make reductions to the remuneration of judges."

Mr McMahon was nominated by the Chief Justice, Mrs Justice Susan Denham.

Other members of the commission are: the Comptroller and Auditor General, John Buckley; the Ombudsman, Emily O’Reilly; the Clerk of the Dáil, Kieran Coughlan; and the Clerk of the Seanad.

(LB/CD)