Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan has said he has an “open mind” on the fine detail of the new Judicial Appointments Commission – as long as it has a lay chair and a lay majority. The new commission would replace the current Judicial Appointments Advisory Board and comprise a new lay-dominated body, headed by a non-legal chair, which would propose names to the Government for appointment to the judiciary. Sinn Féin spokesman Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire said “multiple committees of 11 from a commission of 13 is unwieldy”. Mr Flanagan said he had an open mind on the exact numbers and make-up of the committees. “Ultimately the aim is to reform the process,” he said, adding that he had not come to the committee with a closed mind.

Source: The Irish Times January 17, 2018 19:18 UTC