The most senior positions in the judiciary will no longer be appointments for life or until retirement, if the Courts (No 2) Bill, passes through the Oireachtas unamended.
The Bill, published yesterday, provides for a seven-year limit on the terms of office of the Chief Justice, the President of the High Court and Presidents of the Circuit and District Courts.
However, this does not mean that those appointed will serve the full seven years. If they are over 65 when appointed they will retire when they come to the judges' retirement age of 72. Those appointed at a younger age will return to their former position on the bench when their term as President is up.
The Minister for Justice is giving effect to one of the recommendations of the Denham Commission on the courts. The Courts Service (No 2) Bill, giving effect to the setting up of a Courts Service, comes before the Seanad next week and the recommendations are expected to be fully operational by the opening of the law term in October 1998.
Mr O'Donoghue also announced an increase in the number of High Court judges from 22 to 24, in addition to the President. Earlier this year the Courts Act (1997) increased the maximum number of judges on the High Court from 19 to 22.
The Minister said the extra judges were necessary because some High Court judges are likely to be engaged for some time on non-court duties such as the Nursing Commission and Tribunals of Inquiry. The chairman of the Bar Council, Mr John MacMenamin, welcomed the increase in judges to deal with problems which have arisen because of judges being assigned to other work.