Judges to face pay cut as part of super-referendum

JUDGES will be hit with pay cuts if the public agrees to it in a super-referendum to be held on the same day as the presidential election later this year.

Because of a constitutional clause, public-service pay cuts were not applied to judges, who earn between €147,000 and €295,000 a year.

But voters will be asked to amend the Constitution — probably in late October or early November — to give the Government the power to cut judicial pay.

On the same day, voters are also set to be asked:

- To elect a President to replace Mary McAleese.

- To give the Oireachtas greater investigative powers.

- To approve measures for the protection of whistle-blowers.

Justice Minister Alan Shatter confirmed the Cabinet had agreed to hold the judicial pay referendum in tandem with the election.

He said it is also intended to put proposals on Abbeylara and whistle-blowing to the public on the same day.

Abbeylara was a 2002 Supreme Court judgment that restricted the powers of Oireachtas committees to make findings of wrong-doing against individuals.

The Government wants to address this and give committees the powers they need to undertake inquiries.

On whistle-blowing, the Government wants to ensure the confidentiality of people who provide information in the public interest to TDs can be maintained.

Mr Shatter said he had the greatest faith in the “patriotism” of the judiciary and their “understanding of the financial difficulties confronted by the state” and said he would be “astonished” if there was any negative reaction from judges to the Government’s proposal.