The Labour leader, Mr Ruairi Quinn, said his party would oppose the referendum on judicial conduct unless the Government amended its proposals.

"It makes it harder to impeach a judge; it affords judges of the minor courts the same constitutional protection as the President; it fails to resolve the issue of how judges guilty of misconduct can be sanctioned, short of actual impeachment; and it fails to provide an adequate non-judicial involvement in the limited procedures set out," Mr Quinn said.

He added that it would make a bad situation worse.

The Minister's published amendments did not go to the heart of the problem with the Bill. "They certainly do not meet the Labour Party's concerns, although they may go some way to meeting those articulated by Fine Gael."

The Fine Gael leader, Mr Michael Noonan, said it was outrageous that people should be asked in a referendum to sign a political blank cheque authorising the Government to enact whatever legislation it wished, without its detail being properly prescribed and constrained by constitutional provision.

He added: "This measure should not be considered further, and no vote should be taken on it without the Government first proposing the draft legislation it proposes to enact.

"Fine Gael will urge the electorate to vote against this flawed change in the law."