Chief Justice Susan Denham calls for judicial council

The country’s top judge, Chief Justice Susan Denham, has hit out at the failure of the Government to establish a judicial council, which she said is damaging Ireland’s international reputation.

Ms Justice Denham has called for the establishment of such a council, which would defend the independence of the judiciary and ensure an appropriate relationship with other branches of the Government.

She has said that the 20-year delay in establishing a judicial council, has created a significant “institutional vacuum” and is a matter for real concern for the judiciary and the State.