Rift in Cabinet over abortion and judicial appointments

Serious tensions are brewing in Cabinet as Fine Gael and the Independent Alliance are at odds on a number of issues including the appointment of judges.

Despite calls from Taoiseach Enda Kenny for “cabinet collective responsibility” the Independent Alliance will press ahead for a free vote when Bríd Smith and People Before Profit-AAA’s Bill is brought before the Dáil next week.

The new Cabinet division over a free vote comes as the Independent Alliance have said they will not allow extra judges to be appointed until a proposed independent judicial council is appointed.

The position is at odds with Taoiseach Enda Kenny who has said that judicial appointments will be made where necessary.

Seven vacancies exist at present between the Supreme, Circuit and District courts, a Government spokesman confirmed yesterday.

Legislation for an independent council will now be expedited, he said, but there were “no current urgencies” around filling positions. “Appointments that need to be made will be made,” he said.

But a spokeswoman for the alliance said, “it would not please the Independent Alliance” if appointments are made.

Independent Alliance

The divided opinion in Government came after earlier claims in the Dáil that the alliance had “frozen or paralysed” the appointments of judges.

It was a “constitutional right” of citizens to have judges appointed, claimed Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin.

There was now a backlog of several years for cases to be heard in the new appeals courts due to the lack of judges, Mr Martin said.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin.

The alliance met briefly last night to discuss Ms Smith’s bill calling on the Government to hold a vote on the Eighth Amendment.

“The Independent Alliance are sticking by their principles for a free vote on matters of conscience,” a spokeswoman said after the meeting.

Speaking in the Dáil on September 28, the Taoiseach stressed that “Cabinet collective responsibility has not changed and will not be changed”.

He added: “When that matter comes back to the Dáil here from the citizens’ assembly and recommendations are made, everybody will then vote in accordance with their conscience on that matter.”