Judges 'Guilty' Of Levy Failures

The way the State's judiciary are paid is again in focus this week with Taoiseach Brian Cowen insisting there is "a reasonable expectation" that voluntary contributions from judges "in lieu of the public service pension levy" will increase by the end of the tax year.

There has been a failure to make such contributions in lieu of the levy despite an arrangement between the Chief Justice, Mr Justice Murray and the chairman of the Revenue Commissioners, Josephine Feehily, shortly after the pensions levy act was passed in April.

Judges are exempt from paying the pensions levy on the grounds that it could be unconstitutional and it has now emerged that just 19 of the State's 148 judges have made a contribution to date.

Between them they have paid only €60,000.

Former High Court judge Mr Justice Fergus Flood said it was a matter for each member of the judiciary to decide whether or nor to take what he described on RTÉ as a voluntary pay cut.

However, Fine Gael's Justice Spokesman, Charlie Flanagan said that it was unfair that judges should be exempt from paying their way.

"Irish judges are among the highest paid in the world... their pay and conditions are of a type which are perhaps unequalled in many jurisdictions," said Mr Flanagan.

"I would hope that when the courts rise at the end of July that by that stage, most if not all of the 148 judges would have complied with the invitation by Government to make a voluntary contribution," he added.

Minister for Health Mary Harney has already said she was disappointed at the response so far but said she believed the judiciary would 'show solidarity' with other members of society.

Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea also said the judges were showing a 'poor example' by making a voluntary contribution.

(BMcC/JM)