I wish to advise the Deputy that the number of posts provided for in each Court is as follows:
- The Supreme Court consists of the Chief Justice and nine ordinary judges;
- The Court of Appeal consists of a President and nine ordinary judges;
- The High Court consists of a President and thirty six ordinary judges (normally thirty five ordinary judges however the appointment of a Judge as Chair of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission gives rise to the additional High Court post);
- The Circuit Court consists of a President and thirty seven ordinary judges, (it also comprises six specialist judges who were appointed to deal with the work arising as a result of the Personal Insolvency Act 2012); and
- The District Court consists of a President and sixty three ordinary judges.
There is currently one vacancy on the High Court bench. As the Deputy may be aware, my colleague the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform is responsible for policy in relation to the salary of judges. However in order to be of assistance, the current rates of pay for members of the judiciary is set out in the following table:
Position
|
Date Appointed
|
Current Annual Remuneration
|
Chief Justice
|
pre 1 Jan 2012
|
€231,726
|
|
post 1 Jan 2012
|
€209,088
|
President, Court of Appeal
|
N/A
|
€200,000
|
President, High Court
|
pre 1 Jan 2012
|
€215,556
|
|
post 1 Jan 2012
|
€194,535
|
Judge, Supreme Court
|
pre 1 Jan 2012
|
€202,622
|
|
post 1 Jan 2012
|
€182,895
|
Judge, Court of Appeal
|
N/A
|
€177,803
|
President, Circuit Court
|
pre 1 Jan 2012
|
€196,155
|
|
post 1 Jan 2012
|
€177,075
|
Judge, High Court
|
pre 1 Jan 2012
|
€191,306
|
|
post 1 Jan 2012
|
€172,710
|
President, District Court
|
pre 1 Jan 2012
|
€150,763
|
|
post 1 Jan 2012
|
€135,992
|
Judge, Circuit Court
|
pre 1 Jan 2012
|
€145,686
|
|
post 1 Jan 2012
|
€131,373
|
Judge, District Court
|
pre 1 Jan 2012
|
€127,234
|
|
post 1 Jan 2012
|
€114,711
|