Judicial pay amendment signed by President

PRESIDENT Michael D Higgins last night confirmed he had signed the constitutional amendment giving the Government the ability to cut judicial pay.

Almost 80% of voters supported the 29th amendment on judges’ pay in the referendum, held on the same day as the presidential election.

On that day every constituency voted in favour of the changes to judges’ pay; 354,000 voted against, with more than 1.3 million people in favour.

The amendment changes article 35.5 of the Constitution, replacing the current wording, which states: “The remuneration of a judge shall not be reduced during his continuance in office.”

The new wording will state: “The remuneration of judges shall not be reduced during their continuance in office save in accordance with this section. The remuneration of judges is subject to the imposition of taxes, levies or other charges that are imposed by law on persons generally or persons belonging to a particular class. Where, before or after the enactment of this section, reductions have been or are made by law to the remuneration of persons belonging to classes of persons whose remuneration is paid out of public money and such law states that those reductions are in the public interest, provision may also be made by law to make proportionate reductions to the remuneration of judges.”

Meanwhile, the President has asked for his salary to be cut by 23.5%.

Mr Higgins has written to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to request a voluntary pay reduction. It is understood his new salary will be in the region of €250,000.

In advance of the election, the Government made it clear it hoped the new occupant in the Áras would take a voluntary reduction.