IT is unfortunate that last week’s handbags between the Government and judiciary was sparked by Judge Peter Kelly.

The Taoiseach has refused to intervene in an escalating row between the judiciary and the Justice Minister, Alan Shatter, but said there were “legitimate issues” that need to be discussed.

A settlement between judges and Government will require a reasoned approach, writes David Gwynn Morgan

Judges should reflect on whether their row with the Government over independence are in the public interest, writes Dan Buckley

The President of the High Court, Nicholas Kearns, has rowed in on the row over judicial independence.

The Government is facing a major political crisis after the Association of Judges of Ireland (AJI) again accused it of interfering with the independence of the judiciary and claimed all avenues of communication had broken down.

The country’s judges have reacted angrily to cutbacks to mobile phone and textbook allowances.

Retired judges are due to be hit by the planned pay and pension cuts under the renewed Croke Park agreement on public sector pay.